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Unknown Artist Dutch, 17th century

Allegory on the Futility of Peace Talks with Spain

1608
Engraving in black on cream laid paper
30.3 × 21.3 cm (11.9 × 8.4 in)

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In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

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FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

In 1608 representatives from the Spanish Empire and the Dutch Republic met in The Hague to negotiate a truce to a military conflict that had been ongoing for the previous 40 years. This print depicts five Spanish diplomats (including the famous general Ambrogio Spinola) who participated in the talks and expresses a pessimistic view about their outcome. The artist included symbolic references to backwardness (a crustacean) and hopelessness (children blowing soap bubbles), and the mountains on the shield refer to Aesop’s fable about a pregnant mountain that groans loudly but gives birth to a mouse, signifying false promises.

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