Kaart van het Hoogheemraadschap van de Krimpenerwaard (deel wapenrand) 1683 - 1706

This is an undated anonymous print of the coat of arms of Cornelis Swanenburgh, who was the Hoogheemraad – or chief polder administrator – of the Krimpenerwaard region of the Netherlands. It's likely it was made in the 17th or 18th century. The image deploys a rich visual language to communicate Swanenburgh's authority. The tower on the shield probably represents a local landmark, while the swan above is a clear reference to his name. Note the highly decorative garlands and ribbons. These suggest wealth, taste, and power. The coat of arms was an essential tool for defining and legitimizing status in the Dutch Republic. To truly understand this image, we need to look to the social and institutional history of the period. The Hoogheemraad was a powerful position, responsible for managing the complex system of dikes and waterways that kept the low-lying Krimpenerwaard from flooding. Genealogical research, local histories, and records of the Hoogheemraadschap itself could all shed light on Swanenburgh's role and the social structures that enabled his authority.