Blazoen van de rederijkerskamer Het Rode Madeliefje te Warmond, 1620 1620

H. van den Berck created this piece in 1620: it's a blazon for the rhetoric chamber ‘Het Rode Madeliefje’ in Warmond. These chambers of rhetoric were societies for poetry and drama, popular in the Low Countries during the 15th-17th centuries. They were spaces where civic identity, artistic expression, and social status converged. This print isn't just a coat of arms; it's a window into the cultural values of its time. The image is filled with symbols that speak to the chamber’s values and identity. Rhetorica sits atop the blazon, referencing the artistic importance of the group. The landscape of Warmond below and motto ‘In liefde verwaermdt’—'Warmed in love’—anchors the chamber to its place and ethos. Even the biblical reference suggests how intertwined religious and cultural identities were. Consider how these chambers fostered community through shared stories and performances. They gave people a platform to express their views, shape their identities, and engage with the world around them, but only to a select few, as these groups were comprised mostly of upper middle class, white men. This blazon acts as a reminder of the power of art to both reflect and shape society.