Gezicht op het gerechtshof in Groningen after 1857

Carel Christiaan Antony Last made this lithograph of the courthouse in Groningen. The courthouse stands as a stern symbol of Dutch legal power, but look closer at the street scene below. We see men in dark suits and women in long dresses who are rigidly separated in their interactions, embodying the gender and class divisions deeply embedded in 19th-century Dutch society. Last, who specialized in landscapes and cityscapes, often captured these social dynamics within his works. These details offer a glimpse into the negotiations of power and status that defined everyday life. The artist presents the courthouse not just as a building, but as a stage upon which social performances of the time play out. The lithograph invites us to consider how institutions and societal norms intersect, shaping our understanding of identity, gender, and class.