Grafmonument voor prins Frederik, 1799 1799

This print, commemorating Prince Frederik and made in 1799, speaks to the power of reproductive media to shape historical memory. It's an etching, a process that involves coating a metal plate with wax, drawing into the wax to expose the metal, and then bathing the plate in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. The resulting image has a distinctive graphic quality. It's a relatively efficient process, allowing for the creation of many identical images. In this case, the print functions as a kind of proto-photograph, disseminating the Prince’s image widely. The use of etching also reflects a broader democratization of image-making during this period. While painting and sculpture were still largely the domain of the wealthy, printmaking allowed for a wider range of people to participate in the creation and consumption of art. This print, therefore, is a fascinating document of both the life of a prince and the technologies that were transforming European society at the time.