Prins Johan Willem Friso verdrinkt bij Moerdijk 1716

This print, depicting Prince Johan Willem Friso drowning near Moerdijk in 1711, was made by an anonymous artist. It would have been created by incising lines into a copper plate, inking the surface, and then pressing paper against it. The relatively simple and repeatable nature of printmaking allowed for the wide dissemination of information, and in this case, a potent piece of political propaganda. Look closely at the waves, rendered with economical but evocative lines. The churning water communicates the chaos of the event, contrasting sharply with the rigid formality of the Prince's carriage, now submerged. Consider the labor involved: the engraver's skill, the papermaker’s craft, and the printer’s meticulous work. Each impression is a physical manifestation of labor and a testament to the power of reproducible imagery to shape public perception. By focusing on these material aspects, we recognize that this print is more than just an image; it’s a product of specific skills, technologies, and social conditions.