Gerechtigheid (Justitia ) overwint Geweld (Violentia) 1579

Here, Johann Sadeler I presents 'Justice Overcoming Violence', an engraving of the late 16th century. Justice stands triumphant, sword raised and scales in hand, over prostrate Violence, depicted as a grotesque figure. The allegorical representation of Justice dates back to antiquity, often seen with the same key symbols, the sword and scales, emblems of reason and law. Consider how the sword, in the hands of Justice, transcends its martial origins, becoming a symbol of reasoned power, a tool to cut through falsehood. Note how the scales, symbolizing impartiality, are held steady, while Violence lies defeated, chained and disarmed. In a Freudian sense, the struggle between Justice and Violence embodies the internal conflict between the ego and the id, reason and impulse, order and chaos. This symbolic battle engages viewers on a subconscious level, evoking deep-seated feelings about morality and social order. Such dichotomies resonate through time, appearing in varied forms across different eras. This reflects the cyclical nature of human experience, forever caught between order and chaos, reason and passion, each influencing the other.