The Middle Portion of the Genealogy of Maximilian, from the Arch of Honor, proof, dated 1515, printed 1517-18 1515 - 1517

Editor: This engraving from 1515, “The Middle Portion of the Genealogy of Maximilian,” created by Hans Springinklee as part of the Arch of Honor, is just dense! It's a family tree, basically, but told through portraits, shields, and… are those coats of arms? I'm a little lost. What's the big idea here? Curator: Lost is exactly where we're supposed to be, I think! It’s controlled chaos, a visual feast illustrating Emperor Maximilian I’s lineage. He was seriously into legitimizing his rule through grand narratives. Each figure and crest tells a tiny story, contributing to this epic self-fashioned mythology. I see ego and ambition! Do you sense that too, bubbling under the meticulous detail? Editor: Ego definitely! It feels a bit like he's trying to prove something, or perhaps rewrite history to his liking? The detail is incredible, like each shield is its own little world. Is the Northern Renaissance all about cramming as much detail as possible into one space? Curator: Not all, but there's a definite love for ornate detail here. And you're right, it's about legacy. He's planting a flag in the past, present and future. A family tree is never just a record. It's also a declaration! Look at how the figures interact, or rather, don't. What does that tell you? Editor: They all seem so serious, very stoic and posed, like they're aware of the weight of history… or at least Maximilian’s version of it. This has given me a completely different lens on family portraits! Curator: Exactly! It's less about individual likeness and more about symbolic power. We started in a forest of heraldry and ended up questioning the very nature of power itself!