The History of Europe: War & Peace Through Art

By MariaBSavino

  • Gerard ter Borch The Ratification of the Treaty of Münster, oil painting,1648, Rijksmuseum.

    Gerard ter Borch The Ratification of the Treaty of Münster, oil painting,1648, Rijksmuseum.
    The signing of the Treaty of Westphalia of 1648 brought an end to the Thirty Years War. This was a conflict fought originally due to tensions between Protestants and Catholics however, it soon became a war over territorial acquisition. The Treaty of Westphalia had hoped to bring international stability. As represented here, the map of Europe was redrawn, confirming the Dutch United Provinces and the Swiss Confederation. Thanks to this event,one of the deadliest periods in history came to an end.

  • Jean-Pierre Houël, Prise de la Bastille, watercolour, 1789, Bibliothèque Nationale de France.

    Jean-Pierre Houël, Prise de la Bastille, watercolour, 1789, Bibliothèque Nationale de France.
    Depicted here is the fall of the Bastille during the French Revolution. Occurring on July 14, 1789, thousands stormed the Bastille in order to get ammunition. This is significant as although the prison housed seven prisoners, it stood as a symbol of absolutism in France. This would be successful as on August 4, the Old Regime was abolished and a constitutional monarchy was put in place. This meant that the king no longer ruled by Divine Right and feudal rights were abolished.

  • Jean-Baptiste Isabey, The Congress of Vienna, watercolor, 1815, Louvre.

    Jean-Baptiste Isabey, The Congress of Vienna, watercolor, 1815, Louvre.
    This image demonstrates a meeting between all prominent European powers as they met to renegotiate national borders and ensure that a balance of power between nations ensued following the Napoleonic Wars. Indeed, Napoleon had attempted to gain European supremacy by extending the French borders through war. The Congress of Vienna met in 1815 and sought long-term peace. In consequence, France lost all its conquests while Poland, Russia, and Prussia benefited.

  • Harry Townsend, Two Six-Ton Tanks Climbing a Hill, watercolor & pastel,1918, National Museum of American History.

    Harry Townsend, Two Six-Ton Tanks Climbing a Hill, watercolor & pastel,1918, National Museum of American History.
    WW1 (1914-1918) was the first industrial war. This image reflects the new reality of war: trench warfare & new weapons changed the nature of the battle. It was fought on land, sea, and in the air. The war was thus, total and global requiring the total mobilization of manpower in all sectors. Indeed, new technologies made this a deadly war, with casualties never before seen amongst soldiers & citizens alike. In addition, 4 great empires fell: Russian, Austria-Hungarian, German, and Ottoman.