De keurvorsten van Beieren en van Brandenburg op bezoek bij koning Willem III, 1691 1691

Pieter Pickaert made this print in 1691, showing the Electors of Bavaria and Brandenburg visiting King William III. It's an etching, a printmaking process where lines are incised into a metal plate using acid. The image is then inked and printed, making multiples. Notice how the etching captures the textures of the fabrics, the ornate details of the interior, and the expressions of the figures. The controlled use of line suggests a laborious process, demanding precision and skill. Etchings like this were often made to document important political or social events, which would then be disseminated widely. Think about the skilled labor involved – from the artist who created the original design, to the artisans who produced the paper and ink, to the printers who made the final product. The print serves as a reminder that all artworks are the product of human effort, skill, and the social context in which they are created. Ultimately, this challenges any distinction between the fine arts, the decorative arts, and even the labor involved in mass production.