NO GRAFT HERE 

Cassius Marcellus Coolidge's "No Graft Here" presents a world where animals embody human roles, executed with a hyperrealist rendering that challenges the very notion of realism. The composition is dominated by a dog, meticulously painted with fine detail, placed in the judicial role. Coolidge employs a traditional portrait format: the subject is centered, seated in a high-backed chair, with elements of law and order staged around him. The gavel and open book function as signs that denote authority and knowledge. The texture of the dog's fur is contrasted with the smooth surfaces of the desk and the plushness of the chair, creating a tactile tension. This interplay between textures engages the viewer's senses beyond the visual, questioning the superficiality of representation. Ultimately, Coolidge presents a mirror to society, reflecting on the structures of power and representation through a lens of humor and critique. The formal arrangement of elements within the painting is a key to understanding how the artist challenges fixed meanings, inviting us to reassess our expectations of art and society.