Burden of Justice

Oil on canvas 

Width: 40 in (101.6 cm)
Height: 30 in (76.2 cm)

In the painting “Burden of Justice,” the Roman goddess Justitia stands alone amidst a desolate landscape that conveys both grandeur and decay. The dramatic sky, filled with tumultuous clouds and shifting hues, creates a foreboding yet awe-inspiring backdrop. Justitia is adorned with architectural elements that represent humanity’s ongoing need to create and venerate symbols of justice, blending classical and modern influences. A heavy steel beam rests on her shoulders, bending under the weight of two weighing pans. One pan is filled with a cityscape, symbolizing the complexities and failings of society, while the other holds a delicate blue butterfly. This butterfly, representing transformation and the purity of a new beginning, tips the scale in favor of renewal over decay. In her other hand, Justitia holds a naval compass, symbolizing moral direction and the pursuit of knowledge. This compass suggests that true justice relies on informed and deliberate guidance amidst the complexities and moral ambiguities of the world.