Stamboom van de familie Medici 1569 - 1984

Curator: Standing before us, at the Rijksmuseum, is Cornelis Cort's fascinating print, "Stamboom van de familie Medici," created between 1569 and 1584. What strikes you initially about this detailed genealogical tree? Editor: It feels both grand and strangely fragile. The sheer detail in the rendering is captivating, like a meticulously kept secret, or maybe just a well-documented real estate portfolio...But there's something almost unsettling about turning human lineage into this stylized arboreal structure. It almost feels too precious. Curator: The choice of a tree as a metaphor for family is, of course, incredibly potent. The Medici family, during the Italian Renaissance, were great patrons of the arts and incredibly powerful politically. A family tree like this reinforces their status, tracing their legacy to ensure the continuation of their power. We should also note the materiality—this is an engraving. Consider the labor involved, each line etched into the plate! Editor: And how power is presented, right? It isn't just organic growth – these are portraits framed within formal medallions hanging like ripe fruit, or even state decorations, which does create that powerful presence, yet constrained by medium as you state. I wonder about that balance of celebrating and almost... objectifying? There's something unnervingly curated about this whole "natural" lineage presented like that. The figures at the base even amplify that staging quality... Curator: Precisely! And if you look at the bottom corners, the contrasting elements of society at the feet of that very tree – this speaks volumes of who it’s for and the control exerted during their rule, the production that brought this to life. How the distribution of printed material allowed a wider audience access in displaying dynastic lineage. Editor: It really does prompt one to consider the manufactured narratives we perpetuate, even subconsciously. It makes one reconsider our own ancestral connections – less in terms of grandeur, and more about everyday human labor and existence? Food for thought. Curator: A potent visual encapsulation of history, meticulously crafted. Seeing it certainly opens conversations about lineage, artistry, and the powerful implications of representation and production. Editor: Absolutely. A lasting image, reminding us that family, like art, is always constructed, selected, and never quite as organic as we might believe.