Munt met keizerin Faustina 1608

This print of a coin featuring Empress Faustina was made by Cornelis Galle I. Galle was an accomplished engraver. Note the fine lines and close detail, all achieved through the careful, skilled manipulation of a burin on a copper plate. Look closely, and you’ll see how the quality of line varies to create tone and texture. Engraving was a highly specialized trade, demanding years of apprenticeship. The resulting prints were luxury goods, consumed by a wealthy, educated elite. This example references classical antiquity, a popular source of subject matter at the time. Note the Latin inscriptions. The print, therefore, speaks of a particular kind of cultural and intellectual capital. Prints like this one played an important role in disseminating knowledge and shaping taste. So, we see how a relatively humble medium – the engraved print – could circulate powerful ideas, and reinforce social hierarchies. It is an interesting interplay of making and meaning.