Willem van Aquitanië op bedevaart 1671

This is Willem van Aquitanië op bedevaart, made by Albertus Clouwet in the 17th century using engraving techniques. The image is comprised of a series of lines and marks cut into a metal plate, likely copper. A greasy ink was applied to the plate and then wiped clean, leaving ink only in the engraved grooves. The plate was then pressed onto a sheet of paper, transferring the image. The final product that we see is a testament to the skilled labor involved in the printmaking process, which requires precision and patience. The material, ink on paper, allows for reproducibility. Engravings like this would have been used to disseminate images and ideas widely, as well as reinforce social structures and class divisions. In its time, this image would have been a multiple, produced for circulation. Here, then, we have an excellent example of the ways in which materials, making, and context work together to create meaning, challenging the traditional distinction between fine art and craft.