While Harris' distinctive, nostalgic figures are most notably associated with a previous time, she manages to ground the figures as relevant with her painting style. She challenges viewers to fuse...
While Harris' distinctive, nostalgic figures are most notably associated with a previous time, she manages to ground the figures as relevant with her painting style. She challenges viewers to fuse past and present with her use of color, shape, and shadow. Harris utilizes vibrant, opaque colors such as her rich, deep blues of the ocean. Distinctive shapes act as shadows, defying realism. This way, the swimmer is not necessarily a figure from the past, instead she is an omnipresent figure of all times. There is a universal quality to Harris's subjects; viewers may feel that they know these women, or perhaps, see themselves in her paintings.