Diverse edelen, plaat 18 Possibly 1530 - 1699

Curator: Welcome. Today we’re looking at "Diverse edelen, plaat 18" attributed to Nicolaas Hogenberg, likely created sometime between 1530 and 1699. This piece uses ink in either a drawing or engraving process. Editor: It immediately strikes me as a procession, very formal and regimented. Everyone in their finery… and all those horses. The mood is one of stately importance, almost intimidating with all the vertical lances puncturing the sky. Curator: Absolutely. When considering Hogenberg’s engravings, it is vital to note the context in which prints circulated; they were easily disseminated and often hand colored to emulate paintings which dramatically influenced their value. In addition, let us consider paper itself. At the time of creation the type of fiber utilized and its specific weight could reveal geographical location of manufacture and workshop standards. Editor: Yes, I’m drawn to how certain symbols are arranged, there’s a distinct hierarchy evident, placing particular characters forward versus relegated in the rear. The use of procession imagery inherently invokes visual messaging with lasting presence and impact. Notice the individual on foot – his placement feels deliberate to further amplify who truly possesses the higher ranks. Curator: The cost and skill to create prints like this means those aristocratic connections mattered considerably. We might reflect on who commissioned the artwork and how its creation might further shape social perceptions, and elevate the cultural cachet associated with it. The ink itself can tell a story, a mixture perhaps locally available or procured along trading routes thus speaking to vast material networks of production Editor: A cultural touchstone then, speaking of power and privilege using recognizable symbols. One cannot escape how this one piece helps to both represent, and create, cultural values of its day. It invites questions on how nobility utilized symbolic display to not only broadcast their status, but ingrain beliefs regarding societal stratifications into people. Curator: Indeed. The artwork presents many possibilities in regards to production, while its impact remains anchored within networks of societal value and influence, shaping its historical resonance Editor: It is interesting to reflect upon both the image and material’s inherent symbolic properties.