Portret van hertog Jan IV van Brabant 1546 - 1562

This is a print of Duke John the IV of Brabant, made by Frans Huys around the mid-16th century. It’s an engraving, meaning that the image was incised into a metal plate, probably copper. Ink would have been applied to the plate, then wiped off the surface, remaining only in the etched lines. Paper is then pressed against the plate, transferring the image. Look closely and you can see how the textures are all achieved through line. Notice the Duke’s chainmail, for instance, or the fur trim on his hat, and the folds of his robe. All of these are suggested simply through hatching and cross-hatching, carefully applied. The print medium was crucial for disseminating images widely. It was an essentially democratic technology, which allowed for relatively inexpensive duplication and circulation of imagery. Think about how this one sheet, produced through skilled labor and mechanical reproduction, gave many people access to the Duke's likeness.