Vertrek van Alva uit Amsterdam, 1573 1780 - 1782

This print, “Departure of Alva from Amsterdam, 1573,” was made by Barent de Bakker using an engraving technique. The work’s social significance lies in its depiction of a historical event, a moment of political transition. As an engraving, the image would have been made by incising lines into a metal plate, inking the plate, and then transferring the image to paper under pressure. The fineness of the lines speaks to the engraver's skill, a highly specialized form of labor in early modern Europe. Engravings like this played a crucial role in circulating information and shaping public opinion. The print medium allowed for the mass production and distribution of images, enabling visual narratives to reach a wide audience and influence collective memory. In understanding the meaning and cultural impact of this engraving, we must also consider the material conditions of its production and circulation, which, while rooted in craft, played a vital role in broader social, and political discourses.