Wapens van Willem II, prins van Oranje, en Maria Henrietta Stuart 18th century

This is a copper engraving, made by an anonymous artist, commemorating the marriage of Willem II and Maria Henrietta Stuart. The process of engraving involves using a tool called a burin to incise lines into a copper plate. These lines hold ink, and when the plate is pressed onto paper, the design is transferred. The fine lines and details of the heraldic symbols, text, and decorative elements required a great amount of labor and skill. Copper engraving was often used for reproducing images and texts, and this print would have been relatively easy to produce in multiples. The choice of this technique situates the work firmly in the realm of print culture and mass communication. The use of this reproductive technique demonstrates the shift toward wider distribution and consumption of imagery within society. The print isn’t just an artwork. It’s a tool for disseminating political information and celebrating the union of powerful families. Ultimately, understanding the print’s materials and the making process help us appreciate its broader social and political importance.