Reproductie van de Franse spotprent op de vermeende dood van Willem III, 1690 1690

This satirical print, made around 1690 by an anonymous maker, presents a fictional scene related to William III, King of England. It's an etching, a process involving cutting lines into a metal plate with acid, inking it, and then pressing it onto paper. Look closely and you’ll notice that the strength of the lines varies; this is a clue as to the etcher’s hand. The etched line has a particular character, which is different from that of an engraving, made with a burin directly into the metal. The choice of printmaking as a medium is crucial. It allowed for the mass production and dissemination of political commentary. The level of work involved in creating such a piece highlights the investment in shaping public opinion. Though ‘anonymous’, this creator would have belonged to a distinct social class of artisans, responding to political and cultural shifts. In this context, the print becomes a tool of propaganda, blurring the lines between art, craft, and political discourse. The use of etching, a relatively accessible technique, underscores the democratizing potential of image-making in an era of political upheaval.