Prins Willem III ontvangt Michiel de Ruyter, 1673 1844

Johannes Alexander Rudolf Best created this print, titled *Prins Willem III ontvangt Michiel de Ruyter*, in 1673. The printmaking process is a fascinating one, and the lines we see here are no accident. The image was likely created using a technique like etching or engraving, where the artist would have painstakingly carved lines into a metal plate. Ink is then applied to the plate, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the carved lines. The plate is then pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Consider the labor involved in creating this work. Each line represents hours of meticulous work, a testament to the artisan's skill. The stark contrast of light and shadow, achieved through the density and direction of the lines, gives the scene a dramatic quality. This mode of production, while capable of mass production, still carries the weight of individual craftsmanship. It reminds us that even in the age of mechanical reproduction, the human hand leaves its indelible mark.