Gelauwerde buste van Hendrik IV in een nis 1605

Thomas de Leu made this print of Henry IV in a niche sometime around 1600, using the technique of engraving. The engraver uses a tool called a burin to manually carve lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. The incised lines hold the ink, creating a print with a distinctive, slightly raised texture. This process demands great skill and precision, which is very different to the faster method of etching, where acid does the work of carving. The engraving process itself would have been highly valued, seen as a skilled craft closely associated with the printing industry and the spread of knowledge and imagery in the early modern period. In contrast to our contemporary digital age of mass production, the slow, deliberate, and highly skilled work of engraving gives this print a unique aura of craftmanship. Looking at the image, think about the relationship between labor, skill, and value, and how traditional artistic hierarchies often overlook the significance of craft.