Willem III wordt door bliksem getroffen tijdens de slag aan de Boyne, 1690

This print, made by an anonymous artist not long after the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, uses etching, a printmaking technique that allowed for relatively quick and inexpensive production. The process involves coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, then scratching an image into the wax, and finally bathing the plate in acid, which bites into the exposed metal. Notice how the fine, precise lines create a high level of detail, from the turbulent sky to the figures in various states of alarm and celebration. The artist has captured a key moment in the battle, interpreting the lightning strike that felled William of Orange as a divine intervention. The image is explicitly political and anti-William; the etched lines serve the purpose of propaganda. The print medium was perfect for disseminating this message quickly and widely, playing a crucial role in shaping public opinion during a time of intense political and religious conflict. It reminds us that materials and making processes are always embedded in social, cultural, and political contexts.