Graaf Dirk IV van Holland 1586 - 1587

This engraving of Graaf Dirk IV van Holland was made around 1580 by Hendrick Goltzius, using the intaglio process. The image starts as a smooth copper plate. The artist then uses a tool called a burin to directly cut lines into the surface. These incisions hold ink, and when pressed onto paper, transfer the image. Look closely, and you can see the network of hatched lines that create tone and shadow, giving depth to the figure's armor and clothing. Engraving was a highly skilled, labor-intensive practice, requiring years of training. This print wasn't just a display of technical virtuosity; it served a crucial function in disseminating information and shaping historical narratives. The choice of engraving, rather than woodcut for example, speaks to a desire for refinement, detail, and permanence – qualities befitting the representation of a figure of nobility. By understanding the materials and making, we recognize how Goltzius elevated a practical technique to a powerful form of visual communication.