Father-daughter relationships reflected in Druze women artists' works

This article examines the theme of father–daughter relationships in the artwork of three Druze women artists, drawn from a broader study of 15 Druze women artists aged 27 to 55, all first-generation graduates from distinct geographic regions. While the larger study explores various themes in the participants' art, this article focuses on the father–daughter dynamic, as best represented by the works of these three artists. Specifically, it investigates their depictions of relationships where the father is physically or emotionally diminished, contrasted with the daughter's significant academic or professional success. The central argument posits that such relationships are characterized by role reversal, with the artwork revealing an unexpected inversion of traditional gender roles. Art is examined as a platform for the daughters' expressions regarding their father image and relationship with their fathers, with the artworks reflecting these themes in terms of narrative contents and material choices. Through their art, the daughters emerge as resilient, empathetic figures who exemplify strength and compassion. Methodologically, the study employs two primary approaches: visual analysis to interpret representations of gendered and socio-political identities, and verbal content analysis derived from in-depth interviews with the artists. The core insight is that educated, artistic daughters often assume a maternal caregiving role for their fathers, are willing to get closer to their fathers whether they are still alive or after their death, and demonstrate care and empathy toward their fathers' life trajectories and difficulties, challenging conventional familial roles and social expectations.