Superbowl 1993

Jack Davis created this image of a Superbowl with watercolor, probably sometime in the 90s. Look at how those hands reach up towards the trophy, as if the players are possessed by the desire to win! I can almost feel the tension in those outstretched fingers, the scratchy texture of the watercolor adding to that feeling of anticipation. I imagine Davis, with his skilled hand, rapidly sketching the players, capturing the excitement and drama of the game. The watery washes of purples, yellows, and blues create a kind of halo around the trophy, making it seem almost divine. Davis was working in a long tradition of caricature and cartooning. Think of Honoré Daumier's political lithographs, or even some of the more expressive sports photography of our own time. Artists are always building on each other's work, riffing on familiar themes, but bringing their unique vision to the table. It's this constant exchange of ideas that makes art so vital and alive!