Alliantiewapen van Gerard Bicker en Cornelia Bicker 1660 - 1672

This alliance coat-of-arms was made by Pieter Jansz, sometime in the 17th century, using watercolor and ink on paper. It's a relatively humble set of materials, especially when you consider what the image represents: a union between two powerful families of the Dutch Golden Age. The artist has carefully rendered the heraldic elements, making sure to show the textures of the plumes and the details of the torches held by the figure at the top. It’s a handcrafted object that reflects a society in which status was rigidly structured, and jealously guarded. In that light, even the choice of humble materials takes on significance. Perhaps the families were seeking to project an image of modesty, or simply reflecting the values of a mercantile society where appearances could be deceiving. Whatever the case, Jansz’s artwork reminds us that even seemingly straightforward images can be rich with social meaning.