Optocht van Karel V met de paus te Bologna na zijn kroning to keizer, 1530 Possibly 1530 - 1699

This is a print made around 1530 by Nicolaas Hogenberg, depicting the procession of Charles V with the Pope in Bologna. The printmaking process is critical here. It’s an engraving, meaning that the artist would have used a tool called a burin to cut lines into a copper plate, which was then inked and printed. The medium of printmaking was essential to spreading information, and this image documents an important political alliance. The choice of an engraving is significant; it allowed for a high level of detail, essential for capturing the grandeur of the procession. Consider the amount of labor involved in creating the plate, and the expertise required. The print is a testament to Hogenberg's skills as an artist, but also to the broader system of production and consumption in which it was created. Printmaking was a key technology in the rise of mass media, a precursor to our digital age. By focusing on materials, making, and context, we can appreciate the full meaning of this artwork.