Rechtvaardigheid (Justitia) 1539

Sebald Beham etched this small copperplate depicting Justitia. She is adorned with the classic attributes: a sword signifying authority, and scales for impartiality, emblems deeply rooted in antiquity. These symbols echo through the ages, appearing in varied forms from ancient Egyptian depictions of Ma'at to Roman sculptures of Justice. Consider the scales, a motif present even in the Book of the Dead, where Anubis weighs the heart of the deceased against the feather of truth. The blindfold often associated with Justitia, absent here, evolved later to emphasize objectivity. Yet, Beham's Justitia, with her unwavering gaze, conveys a different aspect of justice – perhaps one less about blind impartiality and more about a conscious, reasoned judgment. This image powerfully engages our collective memory, tapping into deeply ingrained notions of order, fairness, and the rule of law, urging us to confront our understanding of justice across time.