Oranje neemt afscheid van de graaf van Egmond te Willebroek, 1567 1849 - 1851

Edouard Taurel made this print, "Oranje neemt afscheid van de graaf van Egmond te Willebroek, 1567," using a metal plate. The fine lines were incised into its surface, likely with a tool called a burin. Consider the labor involved. The engraver would have needed tremendous skill to achieve this level of detail. Think of the hours of focused work required, bent over the plate. Etching tools and engraving offered a reproductive capacity, yet each impression still carries the mark of the hand. This print wasn't conceived as a unique artistic statement, but it captures a pivotal moment in Dutch history. It was made to circulate widely, informing public opinion. It served as a reminder that even in an age of mechanical reproduction, the human touch persists, mediating even the most mass-produced images. Materials and processes always matter.