The Unjust Judge and the Importunate Widow (The Parables of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ) 1864

Editor: We're looking at "The Unjust Judge and the Importunate Widow," an 1864 engraving by Sir John Everett Millais, currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. My first impression is one of cramped chaos! So much is going on, all rendered in striking detail. What grabs your attention, what do you see here? Curator: Well, chaos, you say? I’d say a delightfully pointed caricature of power! Imagine Millais, pen in hand, chuckling as he crafts this scene. Notice the judge, enthroned, practically collapsing under the weight of his own importance while this persistent woman – the widow of the title - claws for justice. It’s less a religious scene and more a stage play. Does the composition tell you something? Editor: It does. There is almost a sense of comedy in the imbalance, how the judge seems to physically succumb to her demands and how he's totally out of touch with his surroundings, but what would be Millais's intentions by referencing a Biblical scene from the parables, if this is also a critique on the Victorian Era? Curator: That is very astute of you. This isn’t a simple illustration; it’s Millais holding a mirror to Victorian society. The parable, meant to illustrate the power of persistent prayer, is cleverly flipped. Millais seems to be questioning the very foundations of justice – its accessibility, its inherent biases, its performative nature. Are we seeing genuine concern for justice, or a man bothered by all the squawking? What is the mood suggested? Editor: Now I get it, the engraving reveals the flaws within, and adds the comedy that reflects social commentary and political charge. Thanks for sharing your vision and all your knowledge. Curator: Anytime. Every great artwork can speak to a whole range of experience, I hope the audio tour listeners share the same enthusiasm as you and me!