Het Bourgondische huwelijk: Maximiliaan trouwt met Maria van Bourgondië 1515

Albrecht Durer made this print, showing the Burgundian Wedding between Maximilian and Maria van Bourgondie, using a woodcut process. Look closely and you can see how the image is composed of many thin, carefully incised lines. Durer was a master of this painstaking technique, cutting away the wood around each line to create a relief pattern. Ink would then be applied to the raised surface and printed onto paper. This labor-intensive process allowed for the relatively easy reproduction of images, which was crucial for disseminating ideas and imagery during the Renaissance. The color added here further enlivens the scene. The detailed rendering of clothing, armor, and heraldic symbols speaks to the wealth and status of the marriage, while also reflecting the commercial environment in which Durer operated. By understanding the means of production and the social context, we can appreciate Durer's work not just as a beautiful image but as a fascinating product of its time.