Hendrik III 1620 - 1664

This print of Hendrik III was made by Stefano della Bella in the 17th century, using etching. The effect relies on the fine, controlled lines that can be achieved by drawing into a prepared ground on a metal plate, which is then bitten by acid and printed. Consider the material qualities of the print: the thinness of the paper, the precision of the lines, the contrast between black and white. The process allowed for the relatively quick production of multiple images and the circulation of this portrait to a wide audience. The work involved in the production process is significant: the preparation of the metal plate, the careful drawing, the biting process, and the printing itself. What is interesting here is that a refined technique has been used for potentially propagandistic ends; to create what is essentially a reproducible image for mass consumption. It encourages us to think about the relationship between skilled labor, political power, and the emerging forces of capitalism.