Portret van Willem III, prins van Oranje c. 1671 - 1699

This is a portrait of Willem III, Prince of Orange, made with engraving, a printmaking technique that dates back centuries. The image is created by carefully incising lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. Consider the labor involved in this process, the skilled hand meticulously carving the portrait. Engraving allowed for the mass production of images, and the dissemination of royal likenesses like this one was essential to maintaining power. It was a way to project an image of authority and status to a wide audience. Note the fine details achieved through engraving, from the intricate pattern of the armor to the flowing curls of the prince's hair. The print itself, with its reproducible nature, reflects broader issues of labor, politics, and consumption. It blurs the line between art object and propaganda, asking us to consider the social and political work that images perform.