What better way to express your worldview and humanitarian stance than by sporting a Lady Justice tattoo on a visible part of your body? Inspired by ancient gods of justice, this character has gathered symbolism from various cultures over time and represents equal laws and the redemption of justice for all. Often depicted as a blindfolded goddess holding a pair of scales, the Lady Justice image can be experimented with with artistic techniques, aesthetic elements, and placements to express a strong commitment to the ideals she represents. If you’re looking for inspiring ideas for this, we’ve got your back! Browse through this article to discover some gorgeous Lady Justice tattoo designs that will take your breath away.
Meaning of a Lady Justice tattoo
Lady Justice is a timeless embodiment of the idea of fairness, justice, and righteousness. The character is inspired by divine figures from ancient mythologies, such as Themis, the Greek goddess of justice, and Justitia, her Roman counterpart. Both goddesses are depicted blindfolded to symbolize impartiality, holding scales to indicate that the law is equal for all. Even today, their statues or portraits adorn courtrooms and the corridors of legal firms around the world. Therefore, a common and simple perception of a Lady Justice tattoo is the emphasis on values such as fairness, equality, and the pursuit of justice.
Furthermore, the image of Lady Justice is closely linked to the zodiac sign Libra, as the sign is represented by the scales of Themis. People born under this sign are seen as people with a strong sense of social justice.
While Lady Justice is often depicted in slight variations of similar poses, there are a few ways to illustrate her with personalized, breathtaking tattoos. Skip to the next section for some cool ideas.
8 Stunning Lady Justice Tattoo Ideas
Fierce, fair and just, Lady Justice is just the subject you need for your tattoos to non-verbally express your opinion on worldly matters that affect you. Check out our creative and exciting tattoo ideas for some pointers on how to get an impressive piece of her art for your body adornment.
1. Realistic Lady Justice Tattoo
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Lady Justice directly references ancient goddesses of justice. Therefore, one of the best ways to make your Lady Justice tattoo stand out is to pay close attention to realistic details. This portrait design is an artistic close-up of the goddess and a small pair of scales in the foreground. In some depictions of Lady Justice, she is depicted as blind or pupillary, rather than blindfolded. This may indicate that impartiality is not only a choice, but Lady Justice is incapable of being unjust. The whiteness may also imply that the lady sees more than meets the eye.
2. Scale of Justice Tattoo
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While a fully detailed face of Lady Justice can be an engaging element in your tattoo, a subtle yet impactful way to represent her is to simply illustrate a pair of flat scales that symbolize balance and justice. To create a magical aura around your tattoo, you can add additional attractive elements such as floral shapes as shown in the image above. Play with different shading techniques or add decorative details to the scales to further enhance the aesthetics of the tattoo.
3. Libra Lady Justice Tattoo
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Since Themis’ scales represent the zodiac sign Libra, and the sign is associated with the idea of fairness and balance, the image of Lady Justice can also be used to represent the zodiac sign. To make your Libra Justice Tattoo stand out from a regular Lady Justice Tattoo, add symbols specific to the sun sign. For example, you can use the Omega symbol with a scale, or as the image above shows, combine Themis’ face with a rose flower, another symbol for Libra, to create an especially attractive frame for your tattoo.
4. Minimalist Scale of Justice Tattoo
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Adding ornate details to your Scale of Justice tattoo will certainly make for a striking masterpiece. But there’s a timeless charm to a simple, minimalist design that says it all with barely any pomp and circumstance. A blackwork piece, like the one pictured above, with dark gray tones that softly fade into shades of black creates a velvety finish that’s all the charm this minimalist idea needs.
5. Lady Justice Sketch Tattoo
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A sketch-style tattoo has a unique look for those who enjoy imaginative or art-inspired looks in their body art. A sketch-style finish can be achieved using dotwork, cross-hatching, uneven contours, rough shading, etc., to give it a realistic sketch-like texture. The reference image above shows dotwork with precise lines for a contemporary effect.
6. Lady Justice sleeve tattoo
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Embrace the enigma of a fierce and imposing Lady Justice figure on a sleeve tattoo. Such a design offers you a large canvas, stretching from the shoulders to the wrists, allowing for detailed storytelling and impressive artwork. The realistic tattoo above shows a goddess with sharp physical features, wearing a corseted flowing dress, holding a sword in one hand and a pair of uneven scales in the other, perhaps to convey that the idea of inequality is repulsive. The background features a collection of abstract patterns that weave a personal story for the wearer.
7. Lady Justice back tattoo
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The back is another place where you can try dynamic variations of Lady Justice for an iconic piece of body art. The reference tattoo shows a serene-looking image of Lady Justice holding up a pair of flat scales with both plates extending over her shoulder blades on either side. A network of tribal motifs forms a backdrop for the tattoo, which reaches up and adorns her neck. The tattoo cleverly combines modern and ancient tattoo looks for an innovative design.
8. Lady Justice forearm tattoo
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The forearm is a strategic spot for a tattoo, offering ample surface area for elaborate or minimalist designs. The tattoo above features a full canvas of a blindfolded Themis with an ornate pair of scales against abstract black shadows in the background. The best thing about getting a tattoo on the forearm, however, is the adjustable visibility. A well-thought-out outfit can either conceal or reveal the tattoo, making a fashion statement or hiding it for discretion.
So there you have it! Lady Justice paints an exceptionally beautiful painting with a stunning pose, a strip of cloth wrapped around her eyes, one hand holding a pair of scales and the other holding a sword or dagger. Depending on how the artist sees her, she can look like a dazzling creature descending from the heavens to give evildoers their just reward. A variety of visual details such as a halo, beams of light emanating from her body or storm clouds in the background foretelling her arrival are all ingenious ways to show the goddess in all her glory. We hope our ideas have inspired you to create striking images of the Lady for your own tattoo. Happy coloring!
Was this article helpful? ReviewerAuthorEditorFact CheckRodrigo Casco is an Argentinian tattoo artist. He has 21 years of experience in tattoo design. He has tattooed by hand and has made his own tattoo machines. He has won several awards and has been in first place at national and international tattoo conventions, is a judge at events and also gives many seminars.
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