Fries met allegorische figuren waaronder Rechtvaardigheid (Justitia), Tirannie (Tirannide) en de Kerk (Ecclesia) 1816

This etching, made by Eustache Hyacinthe Langlois, presents a complex allegorical procession featuring Justice, Tyranny, and the Church. Justice, often depicted with scales and a sword, embodies fairness and moral rectitude, while Tyranny, a figure of oppressive power, stands in stark contrast. The Church, Ecclesia, represents spiritual authority. The scales of Justice have roots in ancient Egypt, seen in depictions of Ma'at, the goddess of truth and order, whose feather was weighed against the heart of the deceased. This motif resurfaces in various cultures, each iteration echoing the fundamental human desire for balance and moral accounting. Tyranny, with its visual cues of brute force, evokes a deep-seated fear of unchecked power. Think of the Roman emperors or medieval despots; this fear transcends time, tapping into a collective memory of oppression. The emotional charge of these symbols, laden with centuries of cultural weight, acts as a potent force, engaging viewers in a profound, subconscious dialogue about power, morality, and the human condition. This cyclical return of symbols, each time adapted and imbued with new layers of meaning, speaks to the enduring power of the human psyche to grapple with eternal themes.