Begrafenis van prins Maurits, 1625

This print, depicting the funeral procession of Prince Maurits, was made in 1625 with engraving. It's a technique where lines are incised into a metal plate, which then holds ink and transfers to paper. The material of the print itself – paper – speaks to its function. It's a relatively inexpensive medium, which allowed for the wide dissemination of imagery. This particular image, with its meticulous rendering of the social hierarchy through rows of figures, emphasizes the Prince's status through the labor required to create and distribute such imagery. Consider the work involved: the engraver's skill, the press operator’s effort, and the distribution networks necessary to get this print into the hands of many viewers. All this labor underscores the power of the Prince. So, next time you look at a print, don’t just see an image. Think about the processes and social context that brought it into being, and what these tell us about the relationship between art, labor, and power.