Bedrieger bestraft het slijpen van neus en oren 1601 - 1652

This engraving, by an anonymous artist, presents a vivid scene of justice or perhaps, retribution. At its center, a man sharpens the noses and ears of prone figures. This act of mutilation, absurd as it seems, resonates with ancient motifs of punishment and shame. Recall, if you will, the Roman practice of *decapitatio* or the cutting off of limbs as punishment. The removal of ears and noses, symbols of hearing and smelling truth, suggests a deeper societal anxiety about deceit and moral corruption. These images speak to our collective fear of betrayal and the primal desire for justice, echoing through time and resurfacing in various cultural expressions, constantly evolving in form yet perpetually relevant to the human condition.