Swamp Girl 1969

Mort Künstler made this painting of a Swamp Girl, and what strikes me first is the way he's laid down the paint, almost like he's sketching with it. The brushstrokes are so present, especially in the background foliage, they're like little jabs of color that create a vibrating texture. Looking at the girl herself, there's this luminous quality to her skin. Künstler uses these soft, peachy tones, and then dots of white to give the impression of light glistening on her wet body. It's like she's emerging from the water, almost like a nymph or a goddess. That sense of a pulpy narrative makes me think of artists like Philip Guston, who embraced figuration with a similar sense of humor and irreverence. Just like Guston, Künstler reminds us that art can be both beautiful and a little bit absurd. It’s all about how we choose to see.