Portret van Emanuel Philibert 1700

This print of Emanuel Philibert was made by Georges Tasnière, probably in the late 17th century. It's an engraving, meaning that the image was incised into a metal plate, likely copper, with tools called burins. Ink was then applied to the plate and the excess wiped away, leaving ink only in the incised lines. The plate was pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Consider the incredible skill required to create this fine level of detail with such a demanding process. The hatching creates tone and volume, the lettering is precise, and the overall composition—with its oval portrait, flowing ribbons, and banner—conveys power and authority. Engraving was a key technology for disseminating images, functioning as a kind of printing press before the invention of photography. Prints like this one would have helped to circulate the sitter's image, projecting his influence far beyond the court. It underscores the intersection of art, craft, and political ambition.