Buigende onderdanen voor een heerser 1676

This print, "Buigende onderdanen voor een heerser," was made anonymously, using etching techniques to create this scene. In this work, the etched lines define every detail, from the textures of the tents to the expressions of the many figures. The process of etching involves covering a metal plate with a waxy ground, drawing through it with a needle, and then immersing the plate in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. The plate is then inked and printed. Consider the labor involved, from the person who made the original drawing, to the etcher and printer. This was a means of reproducing images efficiently, allowing them to be distributed widely. The image likely served to convey political messages, reinforcing the power structures of its time, showing prostration before a ruler. This print is a testament to the power of images, and the labour that goes into their making.