In 1790, when Sweden signed a peace treaty with Russia in Värälä, it was celebrated with an illumination in Stockholm. Thousands of candles were lit along the route of a procession across the bridge to Skeppsholmen. Although the peace did not result in land being won, it was described as a glorious victory. Hilleström often depicted the effects of light, such as dramatic city fires, smithies and mines and everyday scenes from dimly lit middle-class homes.