Portret van Christiaan van Denemarken en Noorwegen 1615

Adriaen Matham made this portrait of Christian of Denmark and Norway in 1615 using etching, a printmaking technique. Metal, acid, and skill are at the heart of the process. To create this print, Matham would have first applied a waxy, acid-resistant ground to a copper plate. Using a sharp needle, he drew the image, exposing the metal beneath. The plate was then submerged in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, incising the image into the surface. Finally, the plate was inked, and wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Pressed against paper, it transferred the image. Look closely, and you can see the crispness of line achieved by this process, the fineness of detail in the young prince's elaborate costume. Each line represents labor and a mastery of technical skill. The proliferation of prints like this one reflects the rise of a new visual culture, and a growing merchant class with the means to consume it. The print medium democratizes images, but should not eclipse the labor and resources involved in its production.