The Presence

Pig-tailed girl in blue outfit on roller skates, her left forearm and hand out of view. The Presence(1974) depicts the artist's daughter, Paula at age nine. Hill captured his daughter's energy by using pose and execution to engender a sense of movement and dynamism. The narrow, vertical format focuses attention on her movement. The figure emerges from a fractured, unspecific background, which intensifies the illusion of movement. Her bent knees, flying braids, and dynamic pose further emphasize action.