Mensen in aanbidding voor het beeld van Justitia 1640

Michel Dorigny created this print, "People Worshipping the Statue of Justice," likely in France during the mid-17th century. The image depicts a crowd in awe of a statue of Justitia, or Justice, while an allegorical figure of Divine Providence descends from the heavens. The print reflects the period's preoccupation with abstract concepts like justice, law, and divine order. The social hierarchy of the time is also subtly present; notice the varied reactions of the crowd, from devout worship to mere observance, possibly indicating differing social statuses. To truly understand this work, we need to consider the artist's position within the artistic institutions of his time. Archival records might reveal Dorigny's relationship to the French court or other influential patrons, shedding light on the intended audience and the deeper socio-political implications of this image. Art history reminds us that meaning is always rooted in context.