Hendrik III van Nassau-Breda, plaat 28

This print of Hendrik III van Nassau-Breda was made by Nicolaas Hogenberg using the technique of engraving, sometime around the mid-16th century. Engraving is an intaglio process. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to manually cut lines into a copper plate, and then apply ink to the surface, wiping it away so that it remained only in the incised lines. The plate would then be pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The visual effect is sharp and precise, well suited to depicting the opulence of Hendrik's entourage. But consider the labor involved. Each line represents a deliberate action, a permanent mark. The density of detail speaks to Hogenberg's skill, but also to the value placed on meticulous craftsmanship at this time. The print, in its very making, becomes an emblem of dedication and the social order. It also challenges our traditional assumptions about the distinction between art and craft.