Tocht van Willem III naar Engeland, 1688 1688

This print, titled "Tocht van Willem III naar Engeland, 1688" (The voyage of William III to England, 1688), was created by an anonymous artist. Produced through engraving, the image's stark lines and contrasts are products of a labor-intensive process. Each line was painstakingly etched into a metal plate, a skilled process requiring immense precision. The image documents a pivotal moment in European history when William of Orange sailed to England, an event with significant political and social ramifications. However, it's equally valuable to consider the material conditions that made its circulation possible. Paper, a relatively recent and increasingly available material at the time, provided the substrate for the image. Printmaking allowed for the mass production of images, democratizing access to information and propaganda. The work's meticulous detail and broad dissemination speak to the complex relationship between labor, politics, and consumption in the early modern period. By looking closely at materials, making, and historical context, we gain a deeper understanding of this artwork, seeing it not just as a historical record but as a product of its time.