Deel van de optocht, nr. 12 1559 - 1619

Joannes van Doetechum the Elder created this engraving around 1600, using the labor-intensive process of carving lines into a metal plate, inking it, and pressing it onto paper. This print is all about material display. We see nobles and their horses adorned with heraldry, a kind of branding meant to impress. But think about the artist, Doetechum, and his own labor in relation to this. Doetechum was one of many artisans then who relied on the patronage of the elite. He was essentially contracted to disseminate images of power. This print, like others, was made in multiples, using a technology that was quickly becoming industrialized. Engravings like this are a reminder that even seemingly straightforward images are the product of complex social relations, reliant on both skilled labor and the demands of the market. It urges us to consider the labor and intent involved in the creation and distribution of imagery throughout history, challenging the distinction between high art and commercial craft.