La Justice, from the playing cards (for quartets) "Costumes des Peuples Étrangers" 18th century

This playing card, La Justice, from the series "Costumes des Peuples Étrangers," presents a symbolic figure rendered with delicate hand coloring. Justice is perched on clouds, holding a sword in one hand and scales in the other, framed by text which adds to the card's semiotic layers. The card's composition is structured around the verticality of the sword and the balanced horizontality of the scales, elements of order against the softness of the clouds. The use of color is strategic, with the warm orange of the robe contrasting against the cooler greens and blues, enhancing the figure’s prominence. Lines are distinct, defining forms and creating a sense of depth despite the card's small scale. Such visual encoding prompts us to consider the structural underpinnings of justice itself. The card’s function as part of a quartet situates it within a larger game of social interaction and meaning-making, suggesting that justice, like the game, is subject to rules and interpretations. Note the contrast between the sharp sword and balanced scales, between the cloud and the angular writing. Ultimately, this playing card is not merely a token for amusement but a complex signifier laden with cultural and philosophical weight.