Het oordeel van Salomo 1604

Hendrick Goltzius made this engraving, "The Judgement of Solomon," in the Netherlands in 1604, and it depicts a scene from the Hebrew Bible. The story is one of wisdom and justice and it speaks to the complexities of truth, motherhood, and social order. The image is made through stark contrasts of light and shadow, it dramatizes the moment when King Solomon proposes to resolve a dispute between two women claiming the same baby by cutting the infant in half. Goltzius was working at a time when the Dutch Republic was asserting its independence. Biblical themes were often used to reflect on issues of justice, governance, and moral authority, as we can see here. This print engages with these ideas, presenting a vision of leadership rooted in divine wisdom. By examining the print, alongside period texts and social histories, we can understand the role of art in shaping public discourse.