Retfærdighed 1592

Editor: This drawing, titled *Retfærdighed*, which translates to "Justice," was created in 1592 by Hendrick Goltzius using ink. It presents a personification of justice. What strikes me is her somewhat severe gaze, juxtaposed with the elegance of the drawing's lines. What do you see in this piece, considered within its historical and cultural context? Curator: Well, considering Goltzius’s period, late Mannerism, it is a fascinating political and social statement. Justice, often depicted statically, is given a human, almost confrontational presence. Notice how she actively *holds* the scales and sword. How does that action play into contemporary socio-political ideas of civic responsibility at that time? Editor: I hadn't considered that her holding them makes her active. Instead of being an icon she is taking action, doing Justice. What kind of action do you mean when you say civic responsibility? Curator: This period saw emerging concepts of civic virtue. Justice wasn’t just divinely ordained; it was enacted through human agency and institutions. Goltzius gives us a justice that engages and participates in worldly events rather than remaining a passive ideal. How might a figure like this shape the viewer's understanding of the role of civic power? Editor: So, looking at this now, it could be arguing that systems of justice are only as just as those who implement it and we are required to pursue actively rather than assume the mantle of Justice is held elsewhere. That makes me think differently about contemporary representations of justice, which often emphasize an abstract impartiality. Curator: Precisely! And how interesting that Goltzius achieved that through very careful drawing techniques. I'm glad we examined how the piece exists both inside and outside of the historical narrative.