Prins Svends lig findes 1643 - 1644

Editor: Here we have "Prins Svends lig findes" or, "The Corpse of Prince Svend is Found," an engraving from 1643-1644 by Albert Haelwegh. The detail achieved through engraving is really remarkable. How would you interpret this work? Curator: The image is visually arresting but I think it's critical to examine the economic context of printmaking. Haelwegh was making art for distribution; engravings like this spread political and religious ideas. How does this particular print engage with the contemporary market? What sort of consumer would purchase it? Editor: It feels like it would have been more for a noble or royal person because of the inscription. And of course, not just anyone could read. Do you see that inscription informing how you view the work? Curator: Absolutely. The inscription positions the scene within a specific narrative, likely flattering to the patrons. The cost of producing the engraving would have been considerable. Let's consider the labour involved in making the copperplate, the paper, and the ink. Do you think that shifts your understanding of who might be portrayed in such a print? Editor: That makes sense, if the patron is fronting some costs, there would need to be alignment in the narrative being depicted. It does give me a new lens through which to read these types of history paintings. I used to view prints solely for their aesthetic achievements, but now I understand the process is central. Curator: Exactly. By analyzing the labour and materials involved, we move beyond a simple illustration of history and glimpse at the societal structures and relations that enabled the artwork's production.