De Magistratenbank 19th century

"De Magistratenbank," or "The Magistrate's Bench," is an engraving by Kellenbach, now held at the Rijksmuseum. The image captures a scene of authority, with the magistrates seated in what seems to be a place of governance or law. It’s impossible not to notice the somber tone and the serious expressions of the men depicted. Their clothing and demeanor suggest a world where power and status are carefully maintained, a world often closed off to those outside its bounds. This work offers a glimpse into the historical structures of power, and the ways in which civic roles were visually represented. What stories are not told here? Whose voices are absent? How does the artwork invite us to reflect on the nature of governance and representation, both then and now?