Portret van Willem III, prins van Oranje 1691

This portrait of William III, Prince of Orange, was made by Pieter Schenk, sometime between 1660 and 1711. It's an engraving, meaning the image was incised into a metal plate, inked, and then printed onto paper. Consider the skilled labor involved. The engraver would have needed expertise in metallurgy, tool-making, and of course, a steady hand. This wasn't just art, it was craft, and like many crafts, it depended on a network of workshops and suppliers. The paper itself, though seemingly humble, was a product of its own complex industry, involving forestry, milling, and distribution. The final print is more than just an image; it's a record of all that work, a testament to the ingenuity and effort of the artisans who brought it into being. Paying attention to these material and social dimensions helps us understand its full value.