Plate 4: The victory of Goleta, near Tunis, from the "Triumphs of Charles V" 1614

Jacques de Gheyn III made this print, "The victory of Goleta, near Tunis, from the 'Triumphs of Charles V,'" using an engraving technique. This is an example of the printmaker’s art, with etched lines creating an entire world of detail. Consider how this print would have been made. First, a metal plate, likely copper, was prepared. Then, using specialized tools, de Gheyn would have painstakingly incised lines into the metal, creating a network of grooves that would hold ink. The plate was then inked, wiped clean, and pressed against a sheet of paper, transferring the image. This method allowed for multiples, a means of disseminating imagery far and wide. In this case, the subject matter is martial conquest, made all the more powerful by its circulation. We can imagine the image of warfare reinforcing the authority of its patron, Charles V, with each impression. The labor involved in creating this print, and others like it, stands in marked contrast to the celebration of military might that it depicts.