Daddy 

Troy Brooks made this intriguing painting, entitled "Daddy," sometime after the year 1972. The artist creates meaning through a series of visual codes that relate to the historical representation of women. Brooks simultaneously celebrates and critiques how women are depicted in painting and other visual media. We might think of the blindfold as a reference to the ways women are blinded by patriarchal social structures and institutions. The white roses reference a certain kind of feminine ideal. And the burning wreckage in the background seems to suggest a moment of crisis or revolution. It's important to consider the social conditions that have shaped the production of this artwork. How do gender roles function in the present day? To what extent have museums, galleries, and art schools promoted stereotypes about women? To understand this work better, we can research both the history of feminism and the history of art. That will enable us to see how this painting challenges existing social norms.