Stamboom van Frederik en Ottheinrich van Palts-Neuburg (plaat 10) 1535 - 1594

Editor: Here we have a print called "Stamboom van Frederik en Ottheinrich van Palts-Neuburg," or "Family Tree of Frederick and Ottheinrich of Palatinate-Neuburg." It was created between 1535 and 1594 and is currently housed in the Rijksmuseum. The artist is Jakob Clauser, and the work consists of pen and engravings. It's packed with figures and symbols…almost overwhelming! What’s your initial reaction to it? Curator: My goodness, what a meticulously crafted lineage! It reminds me of illuminated manuscripts mixed with scientific illustrations from the Renaissance. Each leaf bearing a noble, an ancestor of Frederik and Ottheinrich. What’s fascinating is the very *idea* of constructing identity through ancestry. Imagine carefully selecting which leaves—which ancestors, which stories—are showcased! I wonder what tales these leaves could tell. What about the way the branches weave together– do you think there's some strategy in that visual element? Editor: It makes me think about how much control people had over their own narratives back then...versus now, with the internet. The careful construction feels almost like propaganda, right? Curator: Propaganda, perhaps, but also personal, wouldn't you agree? It’s almost like a carefully curated Instagram feed...but carved into metal with meticulous detail! Now imagine *your* family tree rendered in this style! Who makes the cut? And what symbols would you use? Editor: Definitely makes me consider how subjective "history" really is. Thanks, I'll be rethinking my family dinners! Curator: Exactly! The past isn't just a dusty book, it's a living, branching… well, a family tree! And, of course, open to interpretation, always.