Eerste initiatieven tot de verheffing van Willem IV tot stadhouder onder de schutterij te Veere, 1747 1747

Simon Fokke made this etching in 1747, documenting early efforts to promote Willem IV as stadtholder among the civic guard in Veere. Fokke skillfully uses a metal plate and acid to create a complex composition with incredible detail for its size. Look closely, and you’ll notice the fine lines and cross-hatching. This texture gives the print depth, shadow, and a sense of bustling energy. It's this intense mark-making that really brings the scene to life, reflecting the fervor of the moment. Etchings like this were often reproduced, and the production of these would involve a division of labor. The fact that this image was printed at all is crucial. It speaks to a growing public sphere, where political events were consumed as images. The very act of its making reflects the social and political landscape of the time. So, next time you look at a print, think not just about the image, but the labor, the process, and the historical context that allowed it to come into being. This can help us challenge distinctions between fine art and craft, seeing them instead as related forms of cultural production.