Plate 44: Men with heraldic flags and horses from Carinthia and Styria marching in the funeral procession of Archduke Albert of Austria; from 'Pompa Funebris ... Alberti Pii' 1623

This print, made by Cornelis Galle I, depicts a funeral procession using ink on paper. Look closely, and you'll see the lines are not simply drawn, but rather etched into the metal plate before printing. The method used to create this image greatly influenced its appearance. Galle likely used a burin to carefully cut into a copper plate, a skilled and labor-intensive process. The fine lines and details, from the folds in the mourners' robes to the heraldic flags, show the artistry involved. The subsequent application of ink, and pressing of the plate onto paper, allowed for multiple impressions to be made. Printmaking like this played a vital role in disseminating information and imagery in early modern Europe. It was a means of mass production, reflecting the emerging systems of labor and consumption. The amount of work that went into this piece is a reminder of the complex relationship between art, craft, and society.