Portret van Willem II, prins van Oranje, op 15-jarige leeftijd 1641

This print of Willem II, Prince of Orange, at age fifteen, was made by an anonymous artist using engraving. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to manually cut lines into a metal plate, which then could be inked and printed many times over. Engraving was at the time the most precise and reproducible of the printmaking processes. Here, the lines define not just the Prince’s features, but also his status. Think about the layers of labor involved: the making of his armor and fine clothing, all indexed by the engraver’s meticulous hand. It’s fascinating to think about how processes of reproduction—making multiple images and distributing them widely—were being used to amplify the power of the aristocracy. Although seemingly worlds apart, both artist and prince were dependent on economic systems and societal structures of that time. Considering the materials, making, and context challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, allowing us a full understanding of the artwork and the society in which it was made.