Allegory on Social Injustice 1526

Albrecht Dürer’s “Allegory on Social Injustice” (1526) is a woodcut that explores the concept of social injustice through a complex composition. The print features a wheel of fortune with various animals representing different vices and virtues, a woman with a sword representing justice, and a group of men embodying various aspects of society. The inscription on the banner above the men reads, "Truthfulness is to be praised...but false promises are to be cursed.” This woodcut exemplifies Dürer’s masterful skill as a printmaker and his keen observation of social realities in the 16th century.