Artwork
Justicia (Justice)
Justicia (Justice) is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Sebald Beham. It dates from 1539 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Sebald Beham, a Nuremberg‑born German printmaker, executed the engraving *Justicia* in 1539. The work belongs to the corpus of the so‑called Little Masters, a circle of artists who, following Albrecht Dürer, specialized in finely detailed, small‑scale prints. Beham’s output includes roughly 252 engravings, each noted for its meticulous rendering despite modest dimensions.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a winged woman embodying the allegory of justice. She grips a sword in one hand and a pair of scales in the other, standing atop a barrel and an open book. Surrounding implements—a hammer, an anvil, and jugs—suggest a connection between equitable judgment and the regulation of labor, trade, and domestic affairs.
Technique & Style
Beham employs crisp, incised lines and cross‑hatching to model form and generate contrast, creating a dramatic chiaroscuro within the limited space of the plate. The engraving’s tight composition and precise detailing exemplify the Little Masters’ emphasis on miniature virtuosity, allowing complex iconography to be conveyed without loss of clarity.
History & Provenance
Created in the late Renaissance, *Justicia* reflects the period’s interest in moral allegory and the didactic use of print media. While the original plate’s ownership record is sparse, the print circulated among collectors of German engravings in the sixteenth century, contributing to Beham’s reputation as a prolific and technically skilled printmaker.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sebald Beham (1500–1550) was a German painter and printmaker, mainly known for his very small engravings.
