Aankomst bij de Brugse poort van Gent; intocht van Ferdinand te Gent in 1635 (nr. 4) 1635 - 1636

This print, made in 1635 by an anonymous artist, depicts Ferdinand's arrival at the Brugse Poort of Ghent. The medium is etching, a printmaking technique that involves using acid to cut lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. Etching allows for detailed linear work, visible in the rendering of the architecture and the figures' attire. The process demands careful labor, from preparing the plate to the precise application of acid. The social context here is the glorification of power and the spectacle of Ferdinand's procession, the print acting as both a record and a piece of propaganda. The dense composition, filled with figures and architectural details, speaks to the period's aesthetic values and the desire to document historical events. This print invites us to consider the labor involved not only in its making, but also in the events it represents.