Inhaling van de prins van Oranje, 1787 1787 - 1790

This print, made in 1787 by an anonymous artist, shows the Prince of Orange being drawn into The Hague. It’s a colored etching, a process involving scratching lines into a metal plate, inking it, and running it through a press. The printmaking process itself is interesting. Because it allows for the relatively quick and inexpensive production of multiple images, it became an important tool of social commentary and political debate in this period. The careful rendering of details, from the architecture to the clothing of the figures, gives us insight into the values and concerns of the time. But the real power of printmaking lay in its ability to disseminate ideas widely, making it a potent force in shaping public opinion. Here, the choice of printmaking as a medium speaks to the growing importance of the public sphere and the power of images to shape political discourse. It’s a reminder that art is not just about individual expression, but also about the social and cultural forces that shape our world.