Portret van Jean Parisot de La Valette, grootmeester van de Orde van Malta 1565

This is an engraving, a print made by Marco dell'Angolo del Moro. The image is incised into a metal plate, likely copper, using a tool called a burin. The artist would have painstakingly carved the design into the plate's surface. Consider the labor involved. Each line on this print represents a physical act, a cut into the metal. Ink is then applied to the plate, pushed into these grooves, and the surface is wiped clean. When pressed onto paper, the ink transfers, creating the image we see. Engraving was a crucial technology for disseminating images. Think of it as the pre-digital era’s social media. This portrait of Jean Parisot de la Valette, grand master of the Order of Malta, would have served to project power, solidify his image in the minds of many. It's a fascinating example of how a labor-intensive, almost artisanal process, was used for mass communication and political purposes. The print also challenges our notions of artistic value. Was dell’Angolo del Moro a craftsman or an artist? Perhaps he was both.