Portret van Filips V, koning van Spanje 1713 - 1737

This is an engraving, a print made by an anonymous artist depicting Philip V, King of Spain. The printmaker would have used a tool called a burin to manually incise lines into a metal plate, probably copper. The plate would then be inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. When paper is pressed against the plate, the image is transferred. Look closely and you can see the crisp, precise lines that define the king’s face, the intricate details of his armor, and the decorative frame. Engraving allowed for the relatively quick reproduction of images, making it a powerful tool for disseminating information and propaganda. Consider the labor involved: from the mining of the copper to the skilled hand of the engraver, each print represents a complex network of production and consumption. These prints, once affordable and widely distributed, remind us that art is not just about aesthetics but also about the social and economic forces that shape its creation and circulation.