Roeping van Filips II 1869

This print, "Roeping van Filips II" was made by Eugène Smits. He worked in the traditional technique of etching. The image is constructed of many tiny lines, each one bitten into the surface of a metal plate by acid. Look closely at the velvety blacks and the areas of grey. This is achieved by manipulating the etching process. It's a skilled and laborious process, demanding careful control of time and materials. Smits is invoking the weight and texture of history itself. There is a solitary figure of Philip II, seated. Beside him, a sword points upward. Philip is holding his hands together as though in prayer. Smits was not only interested in depicting history, but also in the means of depicting it. He chose a process that connected his work to a much longer history of printmaking. By emphasizing the labor involved, he draws our attention to the cultural work inherent in the production of images, in the shaping of narratives.