The Van de Passe Legacy: Crispijn de Passe the Elder and the Rise of Commercial Engraving Crispijn de Passe the Elder stands as a pivotal figure in the Dutch Golden Age, though his name may not be as immediately recognizable as some of his contemporaries. This is largely due to the nature of his work; he wasn’t primarily concerned with creating singular masterpieces for aristocratic patrons, but rather with establishing and dominating the burgeoning market for commercially produced engravings. Born in the Netherlands (the exact year remains uncertain), de Passe was a member of an extraordina…