Intocht van de prins van Oranje te Antwerpen, 1577 1613 - 1615

Curator: Here we have an engraving, dating from 1613 to 1615, that captures a very specific moment: “The Entry of the Prince of Orange into Antwerp, 1577.” It's currently held at the Rijksmuseum. What leaps out at you? Editor: Chaos! Organized chaos, maybe. But look at all that meticulous linework – almost scientific in its precision, wouldn't you say? I am curious how those engravings are made and how long they might take, especially at this size and with this detail. It makes me think of labor, time, and craft. Curator: Exactly! Though the scene depicts a celebration, the sheer number of figures and details create a sense of overwhelming order and energy, even a frenetic atmosphere that reflects the period. It is a bustling Baroque cityscape transformed by historical painting. Editor: The materials and their arrangement fascinate me. We're talking about an engraving, right? So, a copper plate, tools to incise, paper, ink, a printing press, and the labor…all to make multiples, and how that facilitates the message to spread quickly in its own historical time, in Antwerp society during this time period. What a potent material thing to produce and control. Curator: Indeed! Think of this print not only as art but as an accessible form of propaganda. The level of detail, from the fortifications to the individual faces, speaks volumes about power, prosperity, and perhaps even political intent in memorializing the triumphant entry of the Prince. Editor: Right, art making meaning in this place at this time. I still get lost in the texture! From the clothing to the brickwork. I am struck by the tactile details brought forth through careful and, at times, delicate strokes—like someone translating history onto the surface. Curator: It makes me wonder, did the artist know or foresee it could move us so deeply across such a stretch of time? Editor: For me, this feels deeply entrenched in its moment and the effort that followed it!