Born in 2004, Joffe's daughter, Esme, became the subject of countless paintings. In the present work, she is portrayed standing in a nonchalant manner, surrounded by a green landscape. The candid pose displays a sense of intimacy, transmitting the strong emotional bond between Joffe and her daughter. Joffe’s pastel works portray subjects with an intangible gaze. When catching her subjects off-guard the artist is able to preserve tender and vulnerable moments.
“It’s very tempting to have the figure always looking at you, because that’s what we want to see,” she says. “We want to see the eyes.” i By capturing the subject’s elusive gaze, Joffe sensationalises a mundane activity.