De koning 1675

This print, "De Koning," was made by Giuseppe Maria Mitelli, likely in the late 17th century. It’s an etching, meaning that the design was incised into a metal plate, probably copper, with acid. You can see the crisp, precise lines that this process allows. The material itself speaks to a moment of expanding print culture. Etchings like this were relatively quick to produce and allowed for the wide distribution of images. Consider the skilled labor involved: the artist's design, the etcher's careful work with acid, and the printer who transferred the image to paper. The print depicts a king in elaborate costume, and was one of a series of 50 prints, suggesting a commodified view of royalty. It raises questions about power, representation, and the burgeoning market for images in Mitelli's time. It's a reminder that even seemingly straightforward depictions are tied to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption.