The Four Justices 2011

Nelson Shanks made this portrait of the four female Supreme Court Justices with oil on canvas. I bet Shanks wrestled with this one. I mean, think about it. He’s dealing with all that black fabric, but somehow he’s also gotta get the light just right to capture their likeness. He’s gotta decide where they sit and how to get all four justices to sit still! The composition feels formal but a bit vulnerable. I see the women as individuals, but also as a group with a shared mission. It reminds me of those old master portraits, but with a modern twist. You know, painting is an ongoing conversation across time. We stand on the shoulders of giants, but we also bring our own voices to the table. It’s a messy, uncertain process, full of ambiguity. I like that!