Interieur van het Paleis van Justitie te Parijs c. 1787

Editor: This is Jean-François Janinet's "Interior of the Palais de Justice in Paris," made around 1787. It's a print, mixing etching and engraving. The cool color palette makes the interior seem vast and imposing, almost unsettling despite the buzz of people within. What stands out to you about this image? Curator: I'm immediately drawn to how Janinet captures the symbolism of justice through architecture. The towering arches and rigid structure evoke a sense of enduring order. Notice how the central pillar divides the space, both physically and perhaps metaphorically suggesting the weight of legal proceedings and moral balance. What sort of emotional reaction do you get from the subdued colors, and from the limited dynamic range of darks and lights? Editor: It feels deliberate, like it's stripping away any warmth or passion. More intellectual, rational, less emotional. Curator: Precisely. This coolness speaks to the Neoclassical movement’s emphasis on reason and order. Justice, in this rendering, isn't about personal feelings but rather about adherence to unwavering principles. Also consider the sheer repetition of the arches; they are almost like the endless repetition and codification that are required in legal arguments. Editor: So, the architecture is speaking for the idea of justice itself? Curator: In a sense, yes. And more than that, consider this as a stage for human drama where each player has their place and must perform their role, contributing to the cultural memory of justice. Do you see any signs that would foreshadow the coming French Revolution? Editor: Maybe a sense of being hemmed in, with strict boundaries, or lack of open spaces, I would expect for such a grand public building... Thank you, that gives me a lot to consider about how places symbolize ideas. Curator: Indeed, architecture often tells stories we aren't even aware we are reading.