Portret van Willem Lodewijk, graaf van Nassau-Dillenburg 17th century

This is a portrait of Willem Lodewijk, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg, made using the printmaking technique of engraving. The engraver would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into a metal plate, likely copper. The depth and density of these lines create the tonal variations we see in the print. Look closely, and you’ll notice how the engraver carefully built up texture and form through a network of hatched lines, particularly in Willem Lodewijk’s beard and clothing. This was a painstaking process, demanding great skill and precision. The resulting print would have been one of many, all identical impressions pulled from the same matrix. This reproductive capacity made printmaking an important tool for disseminating images and ideas. The artist wasn't just creating a portrait; they were participating in a burgeoning visual culture, tied to the political and economic forces of the time. Paying attention to the materials and the making, we can appreciate how even a small print like this connects to broader histories of labor, technology, and social change.