Titelblad voor het pamflet: De Tyger voor Themis Vierschaar, 1701 1701

Romeyn de Hooghe created this print in 1701 as the title page for the pamphlet "De Tyger voor Themis Vierschaar." The print engages with the complex relationship between justice and power in the Dutch Republic during a time of political upheaval. We see Themis, the Greek personification of justice, sitting with her scales. A tiger is trying to pull her from her seat as the artist critiques the state of justice. The image evokes questions about who gets to define justice and who is excluded from its protections. De Hooghe's choice to depict a tiger—an exotic, powerful animal—may symbolize the perceived threat to the existing social order. The animal, a symbol of untamed power, literally threatens the very notion of fairness and equality under the law. The emotional impact is palpable, conveying a sense of unease and instability. The artist challenges us to confront uncomfortable truths about the relationship between power, justice, and social order.