
With its clean lines and striking contrast, White Visor (2004) exemplifies Katz's signature style—flat, graphic imagery that captures the subject's presence in a serene yet dynamic manner. The simplicity of the composition, paired with Katz's masterful use of colour, invites the viewer to connect with the figure's confident, modern demeanour. The artist intentionally avoids traditional techniques like texture or perspective, choosing instead to focus on flatness and colour to convey meaning.
This piece perfectly illustrates Katz’s ability to transform ordinary moments into captivating visual statements, seamlessly blending elegance with accessibility. It evokes a sense of grace and contemporary flair while maintaining an undeniable connection to the world around us.
The vibrant colours, especially the bold white of the visor against a bright blue backdrop, serve to intensify the figure’s presence and draw the viewer's gaze. Katz’s portraits are renowned for their calm, almost cinematic quality, where each figure feels both familiar and iconic.
“ When I do people, they’re supposed to be a specific person, and that’s where it separates from Picasso and Matisse. They use a more generalized form. But then since they are symbols, they shift. It becomes Ada, then it becomes ‘beautiful girl’. And then it becomes something else. With all of it, it’s symbols. „