Het wapen van Matthias van Oostenrijk, 1578 1578 - 1579

Antoni van Leest made this emblem of Matthias van Oostenrijk in 1578 using ink on paper. It's a printed image, typical of the time. The most important thing to recognize is that making prints was then a complex and highly skilled process, involving the preparation of metal plates, inking, and the application of tremendous pressure to transfer the image to paper. Each color would have required a separate plate. The coat of arms here isn’t just an image; it's a sign of power, carefully rendered through skilled labor, and designed to project a sense of authority. As such, this seemingly simple piece shows how craft and symbolic representation can come together to define social status. Understanding the work that went into it helps us appreciate its value in its own time, and also today.