Spotprent op het onderzoek naar kapitein P.A. Janssen door een Raad van Eer, 1871 1871

Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans created this print in 1871, a commentary on the investigation of Captain P.A. Janssen by a Council of Honor. Notice the dark forest and the men in armor, reminiscent of medieval justice. This is no ordinary court; it's a "Vehmgericht," a secret tribunal of Westphalia dating back to the Middle Ages. Consider the sword, not just as a weapon, but as a symbol of authority and judgment. We see the sword in countless depictions of justice, from ancient Roman allegories to Renaissance paintings. Yet, here, its presence is unsettling, wielded in secrecy. The Vehmgericht evokes a sense of hidden power. The psychological impact of such imagery taps into our primal fears of the unknown. This print uses cultural memory to stir unease about justice dispensed in shadows, a recurring theme throughout history. This symbol, rooted in the medieval past, evolves in meaning, now questioning the integrity of contemporary institutions.