Portret van Don Carlos 1546 - 1562

This print of Don Carlos was made by Frans Huys sometime in the mid-16th century. Look closely, and you'll see it’s an engraving – made by carefully incising lines into a copper plate, inking it, and then running it through a press. The level of detail is astonishing, especially in the young royal’s armor. Notice how the texture and sheen of the metal are conveyed purely through line. Armor like this was incredibly labor-intensive to produce. Each plate had to be hammered into shape, polished, and then assembled. And of course, it wasn't just functional; it was a status symbol, a way of displaying wealth and power. Prints like this one helped to circulate those images of power. While only a few could afford custom-made armor, many more could purchase a print. So in a way, this artwork gives us a glimpse into the world of both high craft and early mass media. It shows how interconnected those two things can be.