Adgillis II, zevende koning der Friezen 1618 - 1620

Pieter Feddes van Harlingen created this print of Adgillis II, seventh king of the Frisians, using an engraving technique. The incised lines define the forms of the King, his crown and ermine robe, and the surrounding landscape. Look closely, and you can see how the artist varied the marks on the copper plate to create darker or lighter tones, and a sense of depth. The final print would have been made by applying ink to the plate, wiping the surface, and then pressing paper against it. Prints like this one were a key part of the way that knowledge, and ideas about history and culture, circulated in the early modern period. Feddes van Harlingen and his contemporaries would have been acutely aware of the power of the printing press, to make and distribute images, shaping public opinion. This was, in a real sense, an early form of mass media. Considering the material and social context of printmaking reminds us that even seemingly simple images are the product of complex techniques, and have played an important role in shaping our understanding of the world.