Willem V vertoont zich als Ridder in de Orde van de Kousenband op het bordes van Huis ten Bosch, 1752 1788

This print, made by Reinier Vinkeles around 1752, captures Willem V presenting himself as a Knight of the Order of the Garter. It's a work achieved through engraving, a process of meticulous labor, cutting lines into a metal plate, likely copper, with a tool called a burin. The dense network of lines creates the image, giving form and texture to the architecture, the fabrics of the clothing, and the very air of the scene. Think of the craft involved: each tiny incision made by the artist required intense concentration, a mastery of hand-eye coordination. This wasn't just about representation; it was about translating a moment of power and prestige into a tangible object, one that could be reproduced and disseminated widely. Prints like these played a vital role in shaping public perception, turning a single event into a shared visual experience for the masses. The very act of reproduction democratized this image, making it available beyond the elite circles that were actually there at Willem's ceremony. The material of this print – the paper, the ink, the metal plate – all speak to the wider social and political context of its time. This artwork challenges us to see the connections between labor, art, and social power.