Rechtvaardigheid (Justitia) 1601 - 1652

This engraving, titled "Rechtvaardigheid," or "Justice," presents a figure of Justice, rendered by an anonymous artist. We are unsure of the time it was made but we can look at the dress and composition to infer. We see Justice holding the scales and sword, emblems of her office, set against a distant landscape. The print presents a visual embodiment of a key concept in governance and social order. The figure of Justice, derived from classical antiquity, became especially prevalent in European art from the Renaissance onward, often adorning public buildings and legal institutions. The visual codes within the image – the balanced scales, the upright sword – create meaning through their cultural references and historical associations. Understanding this print requires examining the social conditions that shaped the production and reception of such imagery, from legal theory to the history of printmaking. By studying these factors, we get closer to the public role of art and the politics of imagery.