Inname van Breda, 1590 1590 - 1592

Frans Hogenberg made this print in 1590, depicting the capture of Breda. The technique used here is engraving, a printmaking process with a long and rich history. To create this image, Hogenberg would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into a copper plate. Ink is then applied to the plate, and the surface is wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. The plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The character of the engraved line is distinctive – sharp, precise, and capable of rendering fine detail. Notice how the texture of the architecture and the landscape is conveyed through dense networks of lines. This was a skilled and laborious process, demanding both artistic vision and technical mastery. Prints like this were crucial for disseminating information and shaping public opinion. They were the mass media of their time, allowing for the widespread distribution of images documenting important events. The print's existence speaks to the growing importance of visual culture and its intersection with politics and commerce.