Men of Justice 1921

Curator: The tension in this piece, it's palpable! A man looks skyward, almost pleading, while another, slumped, perhaps in despair? It really evokes a sense of… defeat, almost. Editor: That’s a strong reaction to “Men of Justice” by Jean-Louis Forain, created around 1921, with pen, ink and charcoal. It is striking how the medium emphasizes the dramatic character of this period. I'm more inclined to see this as a commentary on the role of law, of justice, during times of political upheaval. Curator: Ah, so the materials contribute to the feel—the scratching quality of charcoal and ink mirroring inner turmoil or even external social problems, how interesting! It definitely looks raw, and unfinished, deliberately so I'd argue, giving the viewer an uneasy feeling like justice itself may be incomplete. Editor: Precisely. The artistic choices surrounding materiality certainly impact the reception. I see the seemingly incomplete lines not merely as "raw", but reflective of institutional process and challenges faced by the court. Knowing that Forain was active during times of great social unrest gives another dimension. We should see it less as individual failure, more an indictment against system failure, or political failings of that period. Curator: Political failures and artistic processes going hand in hand! This piece questions if those so-called men of justice serve their function? The drawing is particularly captivating considering it's made with cheap materials, putting value back into labor by imbuing meaning within something readily available. Forain transforms the very idea of "justice," taking its concept and its makers as his artistic medium to produce what you and I might find both disturbing yet revealing. Editor: Yes, the choice of Forain in the role of commentator allows one to comprehend wider attitudes around government systems within contemporary social structure and class struggles too! The reception of this imagery will of course have changed over time as the social relevance has also. However, this drawing has now secured it's role within social commentary regarding law, and institutional ethics. Curator: And to consider all that from a humble charcoal drawing…it shows just how potent material choices and context make “Men of Justice” into more than a simple genre scene. Editor: Indeed, it prompts crucial considerations of political authority and challenges surrounding social accountability that feel surprisingly persistent, still sparking conversations about what we anticipate, or even demand, from people in places of great civic authority today.