Poort van het Coomanshofje in Haarlem 1874

This print depicts the gate of the Coomanshofje in Haarlem. Above the entrance, we see Saint Nicholas, a figure laden with symbols of charity and justice. He stands next to children, with scales above his head; a reference to divine judgment and the weighing of souls, a motif found in ancient Egyptian funerary rites with the god Anubis. This symbol of the scales transcends cultures; it reappears in Greek mythology with Zeus holding the scales of fate and in Christianity, in depictions of the archangel Michael weighing souls on Judgment Day. The scales aren't merely about judgment but also reflect a deeper human desire for cosmic balance. The psychological impact of these images is profound; the scales, a powerful symbol, touch upon our collective memory, reminding us of our moral responsibilities. This symbol, like an ancient echo, continues to resonate, demonstrating the cyclical progression of human values and their visual representations.