Afkondiging van het Eeuwig Edict, 1577 c. 1577 - 1579

This print by Frans Hogenberg, dating to 1577, captures the proclamation of the Perpetual Edict in Antwerp. It was made using an engraving technique, where lines are incised into a metal plate, inked, and then printed onto paper. The stark black lines define not only the figures and architecture, but also the political tenor of the time. Notice the labor-intensive nature of this printmaking method. Each line had to be carved by hand, a testament to the skilled craftsmanship required in the printmaking trade. Prints like these were essentially early forms of mass media. They played a crucial role in disseminating information and shaping public opinion during times of political upheaval. In this sense, the print’s materiality—its existence as a reproducible object—directly relates to its social function. Considering the work involved and its wide distribution, this print invites us to appreciate the intersection of craft, communication, and political agency in the 16th century.