Stamboom van het Habsburgse huis, blad elf 1533 - 1535

This genealogical table of the House of Habsburg, crafted by Robert Péril, presents a family tree as a living entity. The dominant visual metaphor is the tree itself, deeply rooted, its branches reaching skyward, each leaf a portrait of lineage. The tree has been a symbol of familial connection and growth since ancient times, echoing the Tree of Jesse in medieval Christian art, which visualizes Christ’s lineage. In this print, the Habsburgs are quite literally rooted in the earth. The leaves representing each member are circular, like coins, reminding us of the economics of power. The Habsburg family tree is more than a record; it embodies their ambition for immortality, a desire to transcend time, and influence generations. The persistent reappearance of the tree motif across cultures reveals a collective yearning for permanence.