De Franse Admiraal, 1692 1692

This print, made in 1692 by an anonymous artist, is an etching on paper. Etching is a printmaking technique where lines are incised into a metal plate, which holds ink, and is then pressed onto paper. In this image, the material and process connect directly to the work’s subject. Etchings are reproducible, and this one was clearly intended as political propaganda. It depicts the French Admiral, Tourville, being cast down from the heavens like a fallen Icarus. The churning sea, rendered in a dense network of etched lines, represents a naval defeat. The text below, in both French and Dutch, spells out the message, leaving no room for doubt. The choice of etching speaks to the context of the time, when printed images were becoming increasingly important in shaping public opinion. This was no rarefied artwork, made for a wealthy collector. It was designed for wide dissemination, to sway viewers on both sides of a conflict. The relatively quick and efficient method of etching allowed for mass production, essential for effective political messaging.