Titus Oates aan de schandpaal, 1685 1685

This print, made in 1685 by an anonymous artist, depicts Titus Oates in the pillory. It is made from ink on paper, a relatively inexpensive and easily reproducible medium, perfect for circulating political messages. Engraving, the process by which this print was made, involves cutting lines into a metal plate, applying ink, and then pressing the plate onto paper. The fineness of the lines and details suggests a skilled artisan at work. Notice how the engraver used hatching and cross-hatching to create a sense of depth and shadow, particularly in the portraits surrounding the central scene. The choice of printmaking as a medium is significant. It allowed for mass production and dissemination of this image, turning it into a form of propaganda. The print is not just an artwork, it’s a commodity, produced and consumed within a burgeoning capitalist market. The relatively low cost of production and distribution meant that even ordinary people could access it, making it a powerful tool for shaping public opinion.