Kenau Hasselaer op de Haarlemse wallen, 1573 1655 - 1708

Romeyn de Hooghe created this print, "Kenau Hasselaer on the Walls of Haarlem, 1573," using engraving, a process that demands meticulous labor. Engraving involves using a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. The sharp, precise lines we see here are a testament to de Hooghe's skill and the physical effort required. The image depicts Kenau Hasselaer, a woman who became a folk hero for her defense of Haarlem against the Spanish. Through the medium of printmaking, de Hooghe makes her story accessible, turning it into a symbol of Dutch resistance. This wasn't just art for art's sake, but a form of political communication. Prints like these were relatively affordable and could be distributed widely, shaping public opinion. The very act of creating and disseminating this image was a form of resistance, a way of asserting Dutch identity in a time of conflict. This print blurs the lines between art, craft, and propaganda, reminding us of the power of images to shape history.