Heren van Brederode, van Zyphridus tot en met Reinout III (rechter middenblad) 1551

This woodcut by Cornelis Anthonisz. was made in 1531, and it depicts the Lords of Brederode. This is an ideal opportunity to think about the politics of imagery, especially at a time of great social change. Made in the Netherlands during the early years of the Reformation, it shows five noblemen in full military dress, each identified by name and heraldic shield. The Brederode family was powerful in the region, and a display of ancestral pride like this would have resonated with contemporary debates about lineage, authority and social hierarchy. Note how the artist uses the graphic language of printmaking to create a sense of imposing strength. Woodcuts like this were relatively cheap to produce and easy to distribute, making them a powerful tool for shaping public opinion. To understand this image better, we can research the history of the Brederode family, the social role of the nobility, and the rise of printing in the Netherlands.