Themis (in doos met 43 tekeningen) 1703 - 1775

Louis Fabritius Dubourg created this subtle drawing of Themis using graphite, sometime between 1693 and 1775. The composition, spare in its lines, presents two female figures against a stark ground. One stands, draped, gesturing; the other, helmeted and enthroned, holds a sword. Note how Dubourg uses line to create not just form but also meaning. The standing figure, her lines fluid and dynamic, conveys supplication. By contrast, the seated Themis, rendered with firmer, more static lines, embodies authority. This contrast isn't merely aesthetic; it encodes a relationship of power and justice. Themis, as justice, is not depicted through grand gestures but through the stability of her form and the decisive angle of her sword. Dubourg's decision to leave the background blank focuses our attention on the figures themselves and how they interact. This simplicity underscores the timeless, abstract quality of justice. The drawing invites us to consider justice not as a fixed entity but as a relationship—a dynamic interplay between those who seek it and those who administer it.