Vignet met een wapen met een kroon c. 1681 - 1740

This is a vignette of a coat of arms with a crown, made by Isaac Vincentsz. van der Vinne. Although the date of its making is unknown, we know that the artist worked in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The work is made with an engraving technique, using tools to incise lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed onto paper. Look closely, and you can see how the varying thickness of the lines creates a sense of depth and texture, particularly in the crown's jewels and foliage. The stark contrast between the black ink and the white paper gives the image a crisp, graphic quality. Engraving was a skilled craft, often associated with printmaking, and used for reproducing images, and creating official documents. The coat of arms itself symbolizes status and authority. The labor-intensive process of engraving elevates the heraldic symbol to a rarefied plane. So, by understanding the materials, the making and the social context of this vignette, we appreciate that it is more than just a simple image.