Justice

Art Historical Context

Created in 1636 by Abraham Bosse in collaboration with Herman Weyen this delicate etching portrays the allegorical of Justice. Rendered as a goddess holding a sword and scales, the image draws on traditional symbols of fairness and authority The compact size—just under three inches tall—suggests it may have been designed for inclusion in a book or as part of a portable series of moral emblems. Bosse was a leading French printmaker of the seventeenth century whose precise etching technique allowed for clear, reproducible images that reached wide audiences. Etchings like this one played an important role in disseminating ideas about virtue and governance during the Baroque period, when printed works often served both decorative and instructional purposes. Housed today in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, the work exemplifies how small-scale prints could convey profound cultural values. Its crisp lines and symbolic details continue to invite viewers to reflect on the enduring ideals of justice and balance.

About the Artist

Herman Weyen|Abraham Bosse (Flemish|French) · 1600 |1602 –1672 |1676

Flemish, died Paris, 1672|French, Tours 1602/04–1676 Paris