Daddy's Girl 1984

Eric Fischl made "Daddy's Girl" with oils on canvas, and it feels like an attempt to capture a fleeting, sun-drenched moment. Looking at the naked bodies of the man and child, you can almost feel the heat radiating from the canvas. I wonder what Fischl was thinking as he worked? Maybe something about the intimacy and awkwardness of family, right? The way the light hits the white walls and the figures, it's almost dreamlike, but there's also a tension in the air, like something's not quite right. See how he uses these washes of muted colours, and how the brushstrokes are loose and gestural? Like he's trying to get the feeling of the scene down, rather than just a perfect representation. This reminds me of other painters like Alex Katz who were exploring similar themes of suburban life and relationships, but with this darker, more psychological edge. It's like artists keep pushing each other to dig deeper, express more, and challenge our perceptions.