The Judgement of Solomon 1648

This drawing by Nicolas Poussin captures a key moment from the Old Testament. Enthroned, King Solomon presides over two mothers who claim the same child. A soldier, sword raised, stands ready to cleave the infant in two, to divide the truth as Solomon sees it. The sword, here, is more than a tool of potential violence. It echoes through centuries of symbolic representation, from ancient myths of divine justice to Renaissance allegories of virtue. Think of its appearance in images of the Archangel Michael, or Justice herself, a symbol of divine power and moral reckoning. However, the gesture of offering the sword evolves. In some contexts it signifies justified punishment, in others, defense, or even liberation. Here, it's a theatrical device, designed to reveal a deeper maternal truth. The true mother, horrified at the prospect, would rather relinquish her claim than see her child harmed. It is a raw display of maternal love, a powerful force that transcends logic. Thus, the sword becomes a tool of revelation, a powerful symbol reshaped by context, proving that the most potent images endure, adapting and resonating through the ages.