Strafpleiters 1743

Pieter Tanjé created this engraving titled ‘Strafpleiters’ sometime in the 18th century. This work provides insight into the social hierarchies and power dynamics of the Dutch Golden Age, specifically critiquing the justice system. Here, we see figures presenting themselves before a judge who sits high above them, in a position of power and authority. The very act of kneeling before the judge underscores the supplicant’s lower social standing and lack of agency. What do they offer the judge? Is it a token of appreciation, or a bribe? This question gets at the way the artist represents class and moral corruption in the judicial process. It invites the viewer to consider the ethics of justice and the impact of social status on legal outcomes. The faces of the figures in this scene evoke a range of emotions from desperation to resignation, which humanizes the subjects and prompts empathy from the viewer. Ultimately, ‘Strafpleiters’ prompts us to reflect on how justice is administered and experienced, and how societal structures can perpetuate inequality.