Praalwagen in de begrafenisstoet van aartshertog Albrecht, gezien van achteren (plaat XLVIIc), 1622 1623

Curator: Here we have a print entitled "Praalwagen in de begrafenisstoet van aartshertog Albrecht, gezien van achteren," or "Processional Chariot in the Funeral Procession of Archduke Albert, Seen From the Rear." Created in 1623 by Cornelis Galle I, this engraving at the Rijksmuseum documents a rather grand event. Editor: Wow, what an imposing structure. The detail in the engraving is remarkable! There’s an almost oppressive feeling radiating from the sheer density of decoration, even in monochrome. The weight of tradition seems visually palpable here. Curator: Absolutely. Consider the materiality: an engraving necessitates immense skill and time, laboriously transferring this intricate design onto a copper plate. This speaks to the immense resources poured into staging and then commemorating Archduke Albert's funeral. What about the intended audience? Editor: One might suggest this print served several purposes. Of course it commemorates the Archduke, embedding him into history. It’s a demonstration of power and wealth, circulated as a form of political propaganda, a potent image designed to maintain social order through spectacle. What do you see reflected of artisan contribution in it all? Curator: Precisely! We have to imagine the carpenters, sculptors, and painters, all those involved in building this temporary monument, a truly collaborative effort from different craft disciplines to stage this ritual. Their skill and toil resulted in this towering chariot for popular consumption and political message-crafting, visible here. It served as a stark reminder of the hierarchy present, even in mourning. Editor: A final point - I notice the careful rendering of the crowd. The figures appear uniform, anonymous, almost dwarfed by the chariot. Even in this captured snapshot in time, the scene implies social standing. Curator: Exactly. So while a celebration of Archduke Albert, this print opens doors to reflect on the era's labor practices and visual mechanisms to endorse power through detailed production efforts and contextual presentation. Editor: Yes, it's sobering to think how this relatively modest engraving encapsulates the weight of an era so dramatically.