Een schuit met edelen en officieren van de prins, 1577 1577 - 1578

This print depicting nobles and officers of the prince was made in 1577 by Antoni van Leest. It’s a woodcut, a relatively accessible medium at the time, though still requiring considerable skill. Notice the dense, regular lines that define the forms, from the waves below to the heraldic emblems and foliage above. The print would have been made by carving away the negative space around these lines, leaving them in relief. The block would then be inked and pressed onto paper. It’s a process that favors graphic clarity and repetition, allowing for mass production. This image speaks to the social context of the time, as prints like this could circulate widely, disseminating political imagery and solidifying identities. The very act of production—the labor of carving, inking, and printing—contributed to the broader political landscape. Ultimately, this woodcut reminds us that art isn't just about representation; it's about the tangible processes through which images are made and circulated, shaping our understanding of the world.