Intocht van Prinses Marianne en haar man Prins Albert te Utrecht after 1830

This print, made by Albertus Verhoesen, captures Princess Marianne and Prince Albert’s ceremonial entry into Utrecht. It uses line etching, a printmaking technique where lines are incised into a metal plate, inked, and then pressed onto paper. The fine, delicate lines create a detailed depiction of the event. Etching, unlike direct engraving, allows for a more fluid and expressive line because the artist draws through a wax coating, and the acid does the work of biting the image into the metal. This process democratized image-making, enabling more artists to produce detailed work efficiently. The image is a celebration of royal power, but the means of its production reflects the rise of industrial processes. The print would have been relatively easy to reproduce, making it accessible to a wider audience, reinforcing the spectacle of royal authority. The use of etching underscores a shift in artistic production, blending craft precision with the burgeoning technologies that would define the industrial age. It blurs the boundaries between fine art and accessible media.