Allegorie auf die Gerechtigkeit 

Curator: Standing here at the Städel Museum, we're looking at Peter Paul Rubens's "Allegory of Justice", an ink drawing. Editor: Oh, there’s something so dreamlike about the fluid lines; they seem to dance across the page, suggesting a sense of ethereal grace but the scene itself feels surprisingly stern. Curator: Absolutely, there is an undercurrent of seriousness. What draws me in are the physical attributes of the work: the paper and the quality of the ink that enable the figures and drama within the composition. Editor: Tell me more about these figures—it is an "Allegory," right? So who are these symbolic players? I see the scales and the sword; classic iconography... but all these babies! Curator: Yes! The putti contribute to the Baroque flourish that defined the time. Justice is seen at the top of the plinth with additional figures representing mercy, virtue, punishment, and rewards— all playing a role within Justice itself. The ink as a material underscores that its quick nature can either capture a single fleeting thought or compose an immortal ideal. Editor: Thinking about materials, the availability of paper surely had implications for broader access to education and discourse, perhaps shaping ideals around justice during that era, as only the well-off could have afforded something like this. The work appears to be one fluid train of thought, though… were drawings such as this studies for much larger works? Curator: That's right, they offered immediacy to creation! Rubens drafted works and refined sketches through the process, many of which were made for preparatory paintings— though in the master's hands, they quickly take on their own life as the work itself. And by extension, speak volumes to future creators. Editor: So here, through line and form, we’re observing the materialization of justice, shaped by societal means. It makes you wonder: who had access to justice and fairness and what the work sought to communicate in the broader picture. Thanks for painting it out for us! Curator: A worthy pursuit. Rubens offers us not just art, but also invites reflection on what justice truly represents.