Blind Justice 2011

Editor: William Balthazar Rose's oil painting, "Blind Justice," created in 2011, definitely has a surreal quality. There's this tension between the seemingly mundane cityscape and the bizarre figures. What do you make of the symbolism here? Curator: The painting undeniably pulls from various strands of modernism. Note the clear, deliberate lines against a disorienting backdrop. What seems surreal may in fact be a commentary on the absurdities of the societal constructs around justice itself. Notice the blindfolded figure holding the sword. Where does our cultural understanding of justice intersect with lived realities of those marginalized? Editor: The figure with the horse's head… it’s unsettling. Does that have something to do with the symbolic language you’re referring to? Curator: Precisely. Horses are historically connected to power, war, and the upper classes. That figure's placement, looming over the figure of Justice, forces us to ask: Who dictates the terms of justice, and for whose benefit? What if the systems of power, seemingly objective, are fundamentally flawed or skewed? Editor: It’s almost as if the artist is saying that the very idea of “blind justice” is a facade, hiding the powerful interests at play. The setting, that almost empty urban scene, adds to this sense of isolation. Curator: Absolutely. It suggests that justice is not applied equitably across our social and urban landscapes. Look how the solitary figure in the background and the small ball near the "horse" are dwarfed by these large central characters, like their actions don't matter within this construct. The artist seems to be presenting not just a critique of legal systems, but inviting viewers to question the very foundations upon which they stand. Editor: Seeing the painting this way gives me a lot to think about. It's much more than just a strange image; it’s a powerful statement on societal inequality. Curator: Precisely, it challenges us to engage critically with the world around us, dismantling notions of objective truth. It highlights that our interpretations are deeply ingrained within identity and social constructs.