Luitenant en hoofdman van de Janitsaren 1576 - 1596

Abraham de Bruyn made this print, *Luitenant en hoofdman van de Janitsaren*, sometime in the late 16th century. The printing process, etching, is an indirect method using acid to cut into a metal plate. The plate would have first been covered with a waxy substance, then the artist scratches an image into the wax. It’s a fascinating technique, allowing for a great level of detail, yet the process demands a careful, methodical approach. This print shows us two Janissary leaders, who were elite infantry units within the Ottoman Empire. Consider the labor that went into the production of this artwork. From the mining and processing of metals to the skilled hand of the etcher, and the work of the printing press. The circulation of images like this one was tied to a growing economy, and in turn, shaped European perceptions of the world.