Portret van Fernando Alvarez de Toledo, graaf van Alva 1628 - 1670

This print portraying Fernando Alvarez de Toledo, Count of Alva, was made by Pieter de Jode the Younger in the 17th century. The primary material here is the copperplate, meticulously incised to create a dense field of lines. Consider the labor involved; the artist used specialized tools to carve away at the metal. The image emerges from these myriad markings, each one requiring a careful hand. Look closely, and you can almost feel the pressure exerted by the engraver, the repetitive action demanded by the printing process. It’s a world away from the sweeping gestures of painting. Yet the print medium had advantages. It allowed for widespread dissemination. Like a meme of its time, this image could travel, shaping public perception. The very act of its production speaks volumes about social power, labor and the controlled spread of information. This engraving asks us to consider the social and political context embedded within the artwork.