Portret van Frederik Hendrik, prins van Oranje 17th century

This portrait of Frederik Hendrik, Prince of Orange, is an engraving, an image incised into a metal plate, likely copper, and printed on paper. The material properties of metal allow for precision and fine detail. Think about the labor involved. The engraver meticulously cut lines into the plate, creating an image in reverse. Ink would then be applied, filling the lines, and the paper pressed against the plate to transfer the image. The number of prints that could be made from a single plate made engravings a relatively efficient way of disseminating images, and therefore, ideas, in early modern Europe. Engravings like this one helped to shape public perception. The prince is presented in a way that emphasizes his power and status. These images were tied to the wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. Consider how this seemingly simple portrait participates in a complex web of social and economic relations.