Jan de Witt c. 18th century

Editor: This is Pieter van Gunst’s engraving of Jan de Witt. The precision of the lines is incredible! How does the printmaking process inform its meaning? Curator: Consider the copperplate engraving, a technology emerging alongside burgeoning Dutch trade. The circulation of these prints mirrors the distribution of commodities and the construction of political figures as brands, wouldn’t you say? Editor: So, this isn’t just a portrait but a mass-produced object? Curator: Precisely. The material tells us about the economy and the subject's role within it. What are your thoughts? Editor: I didn’t think about it that way before, very enlightening!