Wapenschild van Frankrijk en Navarra 1605 - 1647

This is Simon van de Passe’s engraving of the Coat of Arms of France and Navarre. Here, the artist worked meticulously into a copper plate with specialized tools such as burins and scrapers. Engraving has a long history, predating the printing press. However, in the 16th and 17th centuries, it took off as a commercial industry. The technique allowed for detailed reproduction, spreading images and information widely. The fine lines and precise details here speak to the engraver’s skill. The material allows for extremely intricate work and the ability to create a large number of impressions. Consider the labor involved in producing each print, and the systems of distribution that brought these images to a broad public. In this way, the print participates in a much wider world of production and consumption. Recognizing this, we can understand this print not just as a static image, but as a dynamic object embedded in a particular time and place.