Voorzichtigheid en Rechtvaardigheid 1537

Cornelis Bos etched "Prudence and Justice" around 1537, a dance of symbols that speaks volumes. Here, Prudence, entwined with the serpent of wisdom, rests a hand on a mirror, a tool for self-reflection. Beside her, Justice stands blindfolded, scales in hand, ensuring impartiality. This echoes ancient Egyptian depictions of Ma'at, goddess of truth and cosmic order, also often shown with scales, weighing souls. The blindfold, though, has a curious journey. Initially a symbol of objectivity, it sometimes appears to veil a deeper truth, an unconscious bias perhaps? The serpent, too, transforms across cultures - from a symbol of healing in Asclepius's staff to a symbol of temptation in the Garden of Eden. These symbols, charged with cultural memory, trigger profound psychological responses. The serpent, a primal emblem, speaks to our deepest fears and desires. Thus, Bos's etching becomes a stage where ancient motifs play out, their meanings shifting, their emotional power enduring, reminding us that history is not linear but a spiraling return.