Overwinning van Hendrik IV bij Montjoie, 1587 1587 - 1589

This print, "Overwinning van Hendrik IV bij Montjoie, 1587," was made by Frans Hogenberg in the late 16th century using engraving. The material here is critical: printmaking allowed for the mass production of images like this one, showing a military victory. Notice the incredible detail achieved through the precise, laborious process of incising lines into a metal plate, which would then be inked and pressed onto paper. The sharp, graphic quality of the print lends a sense of immediacy to the depicted battle. Each tiny line contributes to the overall image, creating texture and depth. This was not just an artistic choice but a reflection of the printmaking process itself, which demanded meticulous attention to detail. Prints like these served as visual records, spreading information and shaping public opinion in a way that paintings, for example, simply couldn't. It's a reminder that the materials and methods of making profoundly influence how we understand the world around us, blurring any neat distinction between art, craft, and propaganda.