Stamboom van het Huis Oranje-Nassau 1747 - 1766

Editor: This detailed engraving from sometime between 1747 and 1766 by Hendrik de Leth, titled "Stamboom van het Huis Oranje-Nassau," really struck me. It feels so…packed, like a family history crammed onto a single page. What do you see when you look at this piece? Curator: Oh, it's so much more than a family tree, isn't it? To me, it sings of dynastic ambition and the construction of national identity. Notice how the House of Orange-Nassau sprouts, not from the earth, but from the globe itself! And what do you make of all those heraldic shields surrounding the central image? Editor: Well, each shield probably represents a different branch of the family or a territory they controlled? It feels very… official. Curator: Exactly! It's carefully curated visual propaganda. Each crest a calculated display of power and influence, interwoven like the roots of a family tree. But consider the broader historical moment, the mid-18th century, the Dutch Republic… what do you think this "family tree" was meant to convey to the Dutch people at the time? Editor: Hmmm, perhaps a sense of stability and legitimacy in a time of upheaval? Curator: Precisely! And the title itself, "The Orange Tree Made Glorious," leaves very little room for interpretation, wouldn't you agree? It's a deliberate act of myth-making through ink and engraving. But don't get lost in the grandiosity; look at the level of detail! It's absolutely astounding for a graphic print of this scale. A labour of love...or political strategy. Editor: I hadn't really considered it as political strategy before. I was just focusing on the artistic elements, like the calligraphy and all those symbols. Curator: And that’s a great starting point. Every line, every curve, every symbol is chosen to weave a compelling narrative. It really pushes the limits of what can be conveyed with lines, doesn't it? It's not just informative; it is a Baroque power play visualized.