Wapen van Karel III van Croÿ 1573

This painted coat of arms was created by Karel III van Croÿ, Duke of Aarschot, in the early 17th century. It’s made with watercolor and ink on paper. The materials here are very much those of the study, not the battlefield. The chromatic range is limited, and typical of the period: gold leaf for the heraldic elements, touches of red, and contrasting blacks and greys. The texture of the paper is visible throughout, a reminder of the handmade quality of the work. It is important to appreciate the incredible labor involved in producing such a detailed image, as it embodies a claim to nobility. Every mark on this page had to be made by hand. Even the script beneath the emblem would have been a highly prized skill. This artwork is an early instance of branding. Visual devices that helped define social status. By considering the materials and making, we appreciate how the creation of this coat of arms was tied to social status, politics, and consumption, transcending traditional boundaries between fine art and craft.