Ruth Bader Ginsburg A Fierce Advocate for Woman's Rights

 As part of my portrait presentation "A Tribute to American Women Leaders" I am also presenting a more in depth back ground of each leader along with the portrait creative process.

 

Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933-2020), a giant for women's rights, will be  sadly missed. 

Ginsburg is remembered for being the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court and as a pioneering advocate fighting for women's rights, including health care and equal opportunity.

Over her 27 years on the court, she was known as a champion of progressive causes and a "Jurist of Historic Stature."

 

  

 "My Mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independant." Ruth Bader Ginsburg

 

 Ruth Bader Ginsburg,  20 x 16  oil on linen    Collection of the artist 

 

 

 

 

 

    Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that             will lead others to join you.”           Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ginsburg was one of only nine women in her class at Harvard Law School.  It was a time in the world where it was lawful to treat women as less than men. Just as an example of the attitude around women at the time, a few years after she finished her law degree at Columbia Law School, Chief Justice Earl Warren’s Supreme Court upheld, unanimously, the state of Florida’s exclusion of women from jury service because a “woman is still regarded as the center of home and family life.”

 Her career is a shining example of proving that attitude wrong, and she worked throughout her career to make sure all women had equal access to their career of choice.

 Before becoming a Supreme Court Justice, she argued six cases before the high court, winning five, all with a husband and two children at home.

 

I decided to  paint the Justice straight on in a head and shoulders pose, as I think that is what people envision when they think of  Ruth Bader Ginsburg...not her body structure, but  that intense, unflinching face, meeting straight on what ever challenge.

In my research for the portrait I saw that the Associate Justice also wore Jabots so I decided to add this for added compositional interest.  On the far left is the first days oil wash in and in the middle image is the portrait further developed with the reference photos on either side. I usually have a black and white reference photo to work from and it helps to show the true values.  I also thought that the  rich red/crimson background was fitting for Ginsburg's spirit.

 

  On the far right is the finished 20 x 16 oil on linen portrait.

 

 To see more on my portrait series  "A Tribute to American Women Leaders" check out my other blog posts and to see more of my oil portraits visit my website:      www.susandurkee.com