Justitia beschermt Onschuld tegen Misdaad 1806

Joseph de La Serrie created this print titled ‘Justitia protects Innocence from Crime’ in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century. This piece uses allegory, a common visual strategy during an era of revolutions and shifting social norms, to express ideas about justice and protection. Here, we see Justitia, the embodiment of justice, interceding to shield an innocent figure from the clutches of crime. Justice herself is portrayed as a strong woman, actively pulling crime away from its intended victim. This dynamic challenges the conventional depictions of the era, where women were often passive. Crime is depicted as a naked and muscular man. This emphasis on the male body might reflect contemporary concerns about social order and the perceived threat of male aggression. By personifying these concepts, De La Serrie invites viewers to contemplate the roles of justice, innocence, and criminality in shaping society. This print encourages us to consider how power dynamics and moral imperatives intersect in our understanding of justice.