Justice / Django Unchained Mixed Media Painting

This is a contemporary mixed media artwork by Courtney Jolliff, executed on a reclaimed double-page spread of a 'The New York Times' newspaper (dated August 22, 2021, featuring Weather and Sports sections). The central figure is an expressive, stylized depiction of the character Django from the film 'Django Unchained,' identifiable by his vibrant cobalt blue valet outfit, white ruffled collar, and signature green sunglasses. He wears a red crown, a symbolic nod to Basquiat-esque neocrowned royalty. The figure is shown in mid-action, wielding a whip that snakes through the lower-left corner. The background is divided into a lush green field and a dramatic sky filled with thick, impasto applications of metallic gold and creamy white paint. The word 'Justice' is scrawled in black ink across the golden sky, while 'oppression' appears towards the bottom right near a small, cartoonish 'dead' figure with 'X' eyes. The composition is raw and visceral, utilizing the ephemeral nature of newsprint as a substrate to contrast with the permanence of the historical themes suggested. Condition includes expected horizontal and vertical creases from the original newspaper folding, with some edge curling and minor paint cracking typical of heavy application on thin paper. The work reflects a neo-expressionist style, focusing on cultural impact and cinematic catharsis within the context of Black history and cinema.