The Four Justices 2011

Nelson Shanks made this portrait of the four female Supreme Court Justices with oils on canvas. The colours are muted, sober, really. Like a Vermeer, but the composition, with its blue couch and formal arrangement, has the stiffness of an official photograph, which is kinda strange. The textures are smooth, controlled, and the paint handling is tight. Look at the way the light catches the edge of the mirror, or the folds in the red curtain – very precise and academic. But then, you notice the faces, each one distinct and somehow softened, like you’re seeing the person behind the robe. It’s as though Shanks is trying to balance the weight of tradition with the individuality of these women. It reminds me of Alice Neel, in a way, her ability to capture a likeness while also revealing something essential about the person. Maybe it's that tension between structure and feeling that makes this painting so compelling.