Portret van Jan I van Holland before 1646

This is a portrait of Jan I van Holland, and it's an engraving, a printmaking technique that was very popular in the 16th and 17th centuries. The engraver would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into a metal plate, which was then inked and printed onto paper. The image has a graphic quality, with the lines creating a sense of depth and shadow. The design is intricate, with text and floral motifs surrounding the central portrait. Engravings like this were often produced in multiples and circulated widely, making them an important means of disseminating images and information. Consider the labor involved in creating this print. An artisan would have needed both technical skill and considerable time, in turn underscoring how printmaking enabled a democratization of images and information in its day, a shift with clear social and political ramifications. When we look closely at the lines of this print, we can see the work involved in its creation and understand its historical impact.