daddy 

Cassidy Rae Marietta created "daddy," an illustration from the late 20th or early 21st century, though the specific date remains elusive. Marietta’s piece operates within a lineage of artists using the body as a canvas for exploring identity, desire, and vulnerability. The illustration depicts a man with his arm shielding his eyes, positioned against a vibrant, patterned backdrop that merges natural and surreal elements. The flowers tattooed on his shoulder seem to bloom from his very flesh. This is a gentle representation of masculinity, a tender reimagining of the male form, adorned and expressive. Here, Marietta challenges traditional representations by positioning the male body as a site of softness. The shielding of the eyes can be interpreted as a gesture of vulnerability, asking the viewer to consider the emotional lives of men, and how societal expectations often discourage such openness. Through its visual language, "daddy" invites us to reflect on the multifaceted nature of identity and the potential for art to foster empathy.