Deez´ prent o jeugd! u toegewijd, / Verdient wel uw oplettendheid, / 't Is fabelkunde dat gij ziet; / Wees vlijtig, vrees de moeite niet 1828 - 1853

This undated print by Broese & Comp. presents a fascinating collection of classical figures, each encapsulated in a circular frame, like coins of ancient wisdom. Here, Flora, Mars, Hercules, and others parade before our eyes, their familiar visages laden with centuries of accumulated meaning. Consider, for instance, the figure of Justice, holding her scales. This motif, resonating from ancient Egypt to contemporary courtrooms, is not merely an emblem of impartiality. It embodies a profound, almost primal, desire for order and equilibrium in the human soul. We see the scales in one hand and a sword in the other: justice’s attributes are often contradictory. This duality reflects the complex nature of justice itself: objective judgment often coexists with subjective interpretation, leading to the necessity of choosing between what is morally good, and what is legal. The recurrence of these symbols, these archetypes, speaks to the enduring power of the past. These images are not static relics but living entities, constantly re-emerging, re-interpreted, and re-integrated into the ongoing drama of human culture.