Koningen Edward IV, Edward V, Richard III en Hendrik VII 1584

Hendrick Goltzius made this print of Kings Edward IV, Edward V, Richard III, and Henry VII. The image was wrought through engraving, a skilled tradition with a long history. The process begins with a metal plate, typically copper, into which the design is painstakingly incised using a tool called a burin. The plate is then inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the engraved lines. Finally, damp paper is pressed against the plate, transferring the image. The image is a series of incised lines, each one requiring the artist's focused attention. The density and direction of these lines create tone and texture, defining the forms of the kings, their elaborate garments, shields and weaponry. But this wasn't just a demonstration of technical virtuosity, it was also a means of mass production. Prints like these were relatively affordable, allowing images and ideas to circulate widely, thus blurring the boundaries between art and craft.