The Abuses of the Law, Plate 7 1570 - 1617

"The Abuses of the Law, Plate 7" (1570-1617) is an etching by Dutch Golden Age artist Hendrick Goltzius, known for his masterful use of line and detail. This particular print, part of a series exploring societal injustices, depicts a scene of courtroom chaos. A group of men, wielding weapons, aggressively surround a woman while another figure, representing Justice, is bound and abused in the background. This dynamic composition, reminiscent of Baroque style, illustrates the corruption and abuse of legal power prevalent in Goltzius's time. This artwork, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, remains a potent visual commentary on the dangers of unchecked authority.