Gevaren van het proces c. 1593 - 1597

Cornelis Galle I created this engraving, “Gevaren van het proces,” sometime between 1600 and 1650, during the Dutch Golden Age. It depicts a central female figure, likely representing Justice or Truth, forced to navigate a gauntlet of spears. The image is rich with cultural references, reflecting the social and political climate of the time. The spears represent the dangers and challenges of legal processes, while the figure of Justice suggests the potential for corruption and the difficulty of achieving fairness. Galle's work speaks to anxieties about the legal system and the importance of ethical conduct among those in power. As historians, we can delve into legal and political texts from the period, as well as look at pamphlets and other popular imagery, to better understand the ways in which legal institutions were perceived. By analyzing these sources, we can better understand the social context of Galle’s work and the powerful role of art in commenting on the institutions of its time.