Justice (Justicia) from The Virtues 1559 - 1564

This engraving, titled "Justice," was created by Philips Galle in the late 16th century. It depicts a bustling scene filled with symbols of law and punishment, the most prominent being the figure of Justitia herself, holding scales and a sword. The scales of justice, an ancient motif, appear as early as Egyptian depictions of the weighing of souls. The sword symbolizes the power to enforce the law, a concept echoed across cultures from Roman gladii to medieval knights' blades. Notice how Galle contrasts these symbols of power with the gruesome punishments meted out in the background. Consider the emotional weight of these images. The collective memory of violence and retribution is a powerful force, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. This image, laden with symbols of justice and their consequences, reveals the cyclical progression of these ideas as they resurface and evolve through history.