The Judgment of Solomon 1543 - 1688

This painting, of unknown authorship, depicts "The Judgment of Solomon" and is rich with symbols resonating through time. At its heart, the sword, poised to bisect the infant, speaks of brutal decisiveness, embodying power but also destruction. This echoes the ancient motif of sacrifice, seen in myriad forms from Abraham's near-sacrifice of Isaac to the judicial executions of antiquity. Note the theatrical gestures of the figures. The true mother's outstretched hand, pleading, is a primal symbol of maternal love, of Eros, transcending mere possession. The prostrate child at Solomon's feet recalls sacrificial victims, and vulnerable innocence threatened by worldly power. The motif resurfaces in countless guises – from Renaissance depictions of martyred saints to modern images of war-torn children. These symbols aren't static; they evolve, accumulating layers of meaning, reflecting our collective anxieties and hopes. It is this cyclical progression that reveals the enduring power of images.