Fotoreproductie van een tekening van een stamboom, van Karel de Grote tot Lodewijk van Overzee before 1874

This is a reproduction of a drawing of a family tree, depicting the lineage from Charlemagne to Louis IV. Its anonymous maker rendered it with an emphasis on genealogical heraldry. The composition is rigorously structured, a grid of ornate frames each containing heraldic shields. Lines of descent are signified through graphic links and descriptive text. This is a visual system that emphasizes hierarchy and order. The careful arrangement and symmetry of the heraldic symbols communicate a sense of established power and historical continuity. Yet, what does it mean to reproduce a hand-drawn genealogical chart? The act of reproduction itself introduces a layer of mediation, destabilizing the authenticity and singularity often associated with historical narratives. The drawing is made newly accessible and raises questions about the relationship between representation and reality, lineage and legacy.