The invention relates to a brake device having a frame, at least one pair of mutually opposing braking elements, at least one actuation element in operative connection with each braking element, and a spring device, wherein each braking element has three joint sections which are arranged in a row and are connected to one another via flexure bearings, and the middle joint section of which has a contact section, and the two joint sections adjoining the middle joint section are each connected integrally to the frame via a flexure bearing, wherein a force is exerted on each braking element by means of the spring device, by means of which force the respective contact section can be pressed with a defined force against an element to be braked, and a force which counteracts the force exerted on the braking elements by the spring device acts on the braking elements by means of a continuous energy input into the actuation elements and, when the energy input into the actuation elements is absent, the force exerted by the latter on the braking elements is removed.