Feestmaal voor koning Karel II van Engeland in het Mauritshuis te Den Haag, 1660 1660

Anthony van Zijlvelt created this print of the Feestmaal voor koning Karel II van Engeland in het Mauritshuis te Den Haag in 1660. The printmaking process itself is important here. Prints like this were made by carving an image into a metal plate, inking it, and then pressing it onto paper. This allowed for the mass production of images, playing a crucial role in disseminating information and shaping public opinion during the 17th century. Consider the social context. Printmaking was a skilled craft, demanding both artistic talent and technical expertise. Zijlvelt's print offers a glimpse into the opulence and power of the Dutch court, a society built on trade, exploration, and, of course, craft production. The very act of creating and distributing this image was a way of celebrating and legitimizing the social order. Looking at the image, think of the labor and resources required to produce such a feast, and the systems of trade and extraction that made it possible.