By the River 1989

Eric Fischl painted By the River, using expressive brushstrokes and a muted color palette, giving a feeling of both familiarity and distance. The tan backdrop and subdued tones give the impression that there is an overbearing heat in the atmosphere, a sense of aridity. The paint seems thinly applied, yet the texture is evident in the way Fischl has captured the light and shadow. Notice the way the light illuminates the water jugs which each of the figures carry; there is an almost photographic sensibility to the realism. The camel, positioned on the left of the painting, seems out of place, like it has been superimposed on the scene from another picture, but perhaps it is intended to carry us into the scene. Fischl reminds me of David Hockney; both artists share a curiosity for exploring different cultures and their approach to composition. Ultimately, art is all about exchange, seeing the world through another’s eyes, and finding new ways of expression.