Justice Justice

In Justice Justice, Kopel Gurwin gives visual expression to the biblical commandment to pursue justice. A seated female figure holds a balance scale before her, its two suspended pans hanging in near equilibrium. The familiar emblem of judgment becomes the central image of a composition rooted in the words of Deuteronomy. Her composed posture and attentive gesture lend the scene a sense of deliberation, suggesting that justice requires both discernment and purposeful action.

The figure is rendered in deep crimson, burgundy, and magenta, with a pale pink face and elaborately curled red hair. Her richly patterned clothing is articulated through rounded motifs and sweeping contours, while the scales introduce slender lines and delicate points of balance. The warm tones of the figure stand against an expansive black ground, creating a pronounced contrast with the surrounding border of cobalt blue, turquoise, and violet.

An elaborate ornamental arch encloses the central scene, its symmetrical arrangement of stylized flowers, leaves, and curling forms lending the composition a measured visual rhythm. The precise cutting and layering of felt establish the contours of each element, while visible stitching emphasizes the work’s tactile construction. Along the lower edge, the Hebrew words Tzedek, Tzedek Tirdof — “Justice, justice shalt thou follow” — appear in monumental blue letterforms, forming a visual foundation beneath the seated figure.

The passage from Deuteronomy 16:20 belongs to the biblical injunction to uphold justice, with the repeated word tzedek lending particular force to the command. Gurwin translates this ethical imperative into an image of balance and reflection. By uniting the scales, the contemplative figure, and the prominent Hebrew inscription, he creates a composition in which moral principle and decorative form reinforce one another.