Unjust

Unjust turns toward boys who suffered abuse within the Catholic Church and the revelations that brought what happened to public attention. For Essebes, it carries the same painful contradiction running through the series: something can become widely known while the people who should have been protected were still failed. This painting is for them.

2026 · Oil on canvas

11 × 14 × 0.75 in (27.9 × 35.6 × 1.9 cm)

Signed · Unframed

Certificate of originality included

Details in this painting

Blue eyes: Innocence and witness. The child remains the one watching the failures of the adults and institutions around him.
Goggles: Protection. Protective gear continues the series’ idea of trying to armor childhood innocence.
Headphones: Shielding. Another layer of protection within a painting concerned with children who should have been protected.
Red mark: What gets through. The mark represents what can still reach a child despite attempts at shielding and protection.
Lettering and surface noise: Interference. The disrupted surface introduces visual noise and unease into a work concerned with institutional failure.

Available original — inquire about this artwork →

The Whole World Is Watching

An ongoing protest series by Essebes about innocence, witness and the responsibility to protect children.

Explore the full series →