Portret van Willem I Frederik, koning der Nederlanden 1790 - 1819

This is a portrait of Willem I Frederik, King of the Netherlands, made by Benjamin Samuel Bolomey. It’s an engraving, so the image was incised into a metal plate, probably copper, inked, and then printed onto paper. Now, think about that process. Each line you see was physically carved by hand. The artist wasn’t just representing the King; he was engaged in repetitive, painstaking labor. This wasn't just a matter of artistic vision; it was about craft, skill, and time. The very act of reproducing the King's image through printmaking speaks to the social context. Engravings like these were a form of mass communication, spreading the King's image far and wide. In a sense, this print is a piece of propaganda, carefully crafted and disseminated. When we look at this portrait, we're not just seeing a likeness. We are seeing a record of labor, a testament to the power of print, and a window into the social and political landscape of the time. It reminds us that all images, even those that seem straightforward, are deeply embedded in material processes and social relations.