Reliëf met het oordeel van Salomo in de Vierschaar van het Stadhuis op de Dam 1655 - 1665

Hubert Quellinus created this relief depicting The Judgement of Solomon using engraving. It illustrates a story where King Solomon resolves a dispute between two women, each claiming to be the mother of the same child. Reflecting the cultural norms of 17th-century Dutch society, the artwork highlights themes of justice, truth, and maternal love. Solomon, embodying wisdom and authority, is central. The emotional intensity is palpable, particularly in the women's gestures and expressions, as one recoils from the threat of violence. The other submits to the sword in order to protect her child. This narrative provides insight into historical views on motherhood, where a mother’s self-sacrificing love is presented as the ultimate proof of true maternity. By choosing compassion over possession, the true mother exposes the false claimant. Quellinus asks us to consider the balance between power, justice, and the deeply personal bonds of motherhood, inviting us to reflect on how society validates identity.