Wapen van Muiden 1816 - 1930

This is a woodblock likely made in the Netherlands around the mid-17th century by the Monogrammist IS. The block depicts the Coat of Arms for the town of Muiden. The image creates meaning through recognizable visual codes. The heraldic composition, the mer-people supporters, and the banner overhead are all familiar from the visual language of state power in early modern Europe. Muiden was a strategically vital town controlling access to Amsterdam, and its coat of arms speaks to that status. The imagery is self-consciously conservative, invoking tradition to buttress the town’s authority. We can see the influence of the Dutch Republic’s geography and economy as a maritime power. Further research into the archives of Muiden might reveal the specific circumstances that led to the commission of this woodblock, and the ways it functioned in the social life of the town. The meaning of this image is contingent on its social and institutional context.