De ontvangst bij de citadel en begin van de intocht, 1599 1599

Pieter van der Borcht created this print in 1599, using engraving and etching techniques on paper, with added color. Look closely, and you can see how the lines that define the forms were incised into a metal plate, inked, and then printed to create an image of a stately procession into a fortified city. The coloring has been carefully applied afterward, with each shade requiring its own printing plate. The process isn't spontaneous, but measured and deliberate, mirroring the social order it represents. This print isn't just a picture; it's a carefully constructed statement about power, rendered through the skilled labor of the artist, and the collective effort of printers and colorists. The very act of creating multiple impressions speaks to the desire to disseminate this image, to project authority across the land. By understanding the materials, techniques, and the historical context, we can appreciate how prints like these played a role in shaping perceptions of power and place in early modern Europe.