Justice, from the series "The Seven Virtues (seated, small, and round)" c. early 20th century

Curator: This small, round bronze artwork, a mere 4.3 centimeters in diameter, is titled "Justice," part of an anonymous series called "The Seven Virtues." Isn't she lovely? So pensive, like she's actually weighing the options... Editor: Yes, but her pensiveness also suggests the internal contradictions of justice itself. The sword she holds challenges the very notion of impartiality. Who wields this power? Curator: Exactly! The artist has captured that moment of pause, that breath before judgment, where all the complexities hang in the balance. Makes you wonder about the artist, doesn't it? Editor: It does. The symbolism is so overt—the scales, the sword—yet the anonymity allows for broader interrogation. What systems of power are being upheld here? Curator: It feels as current today as it must have whenever it was created. This piece really gives you much to ponder. Editor: Absolutely. It is a call to remain critically aware of how justice is constructed, maintained, and who it serves.