Stamboom van Frederik en Ottheinrich van Palts-Neuburg (plaat 14) 1535 - 1594

Jakob Clauser created this family tree of Frederik and Ottheinrich van Palts-Neuburg. It's a complex print demonstrating power structures and the importance of lineage in 16th century European aristocracy. Trees have long been used to visualize descent, but here, it's not simply about biology. This tree is a carefully cultivated statement of identity. Each portrait, each coat of arms, meticulously emphasizes noble heritage. The tree form itself evokes growth, stability, and deep roots in ancestral lands. Consider the implications of visualizing power in this way. Who is included, and perhaps more importantly, who is excluded? What does it mean to tie one's identity so closely to bloodlines in a society grappling with shifting social and political landscapes? Clauser invites us to reflect on the stories we tell ourselves about who we are, and how those stories shape our world.