The Hierarchy of the church in the form of a tree, hell below, a plate from a book 1545 - 1555

This anonymous print, likely from the 16th or 17th century, uses stark lines to construct a visually arresting depiction of the Church's hierarchy. The composition immediately draws the eye upward, following the branches of a tree that bears the fruit of religious figures and roles. The bottom register plunges into the chaotic depths of hell. The artist employs a structural metaphor, equating the Church with an organic, hierarchical form. Each level is clearly delineated, ascending from the laity and lower clergy at the base to the pontifical figures at its apex. The use of line is precise, almost diagrammatic, yet the swirling branches and expressive figures introduce a dynamic tension. Semiotically, the tree is laden with meaning, not just representing growth and life but also the rigid structure of religious power. Notice how the contrast between the ordered branches and the infernal chaos destabilizes any fixed sense of divine order. The print invites us to consider how earthly structures mirror and perhaps distort, spiritual ideals.