Oordeel van Salomo 1727 - 1755

This print, of unknown date and authorship, depicts the Judgment of Solomon. It’s a biblical scene rendered with the sensibilities of a later age. Prints like this one circulated widely in Europe, offering interpretations of classic stories to a broad audience. The scene's composition is designed for clarity: Solomon sits enthroned, directing the action. A soldier prepares to divide the baby, while the two mothers react – one pleading, the other seemingly indifferent. Produced for the public, images like these reveal much about the values of their time. Here, Solomon's wisdom is equated with decisive, even brutal, authority. The print assumes a hierarchical social order and suggests the importance of upholding it. As historians, we investigate these visual codes, tracing their origins and their impact. We might look at religious texts, legal documents, and other visual representations of justice to understand how this image participated in shaping social attitudes towards leadership and morality. Art is always shaped by its social and institutional context, making it a vital source for understanding the past.