Vertoning van het Ontluiken van de Aarde, 1648 1649

Salomon Savery etched "Vertoning van het Ontluiken van de Aarde" in 1648, an allegorical tableau brimming with potent symbols. Justice stands prominently with her scales and sword, representing moral order, while figures of virtue and abundance signal prosperity. This image finds echoes across epochs. Justice, with her balanced scales, descends from ancient Egyptian depictions of Ma'at, the embodiment of truth, continuing through classical Roman art. The motif of "scales" as a symbol for impartiality, a universal desire for equilibrium, recurs across cultures. Yet, the sword she wields adds another layer, embodying the power to enforce this order, hinting at the inherent tension between justice and power. Consider how this plays out in our own memories and collective consciousness as we confront complex issues of law and morality. Like a recurring dream, these symbols resurface, each time colored by the anxieties and aspirations of a new era.