Schematic forms
Fat is a work of contrasts, both thematically and visually. A series of panels towards the beginning of her narrative move from two figurative drawings depicting the author to two abstract drawings. In the first two, we see different depictions of Hofer’s anxious face, as she tries to decide whether she should eat that day and what she should consume. Panel three is completely empty, apart from the text. The empty space is aspirational; as Hofer writes, she “would prefer not to have to eat at all.” The fourth panel contains a single black circle. The circle dominates the frame, conjuring the bottomless depths of the throat. We understand from this image that Hofer’s impulse for self-denial, as well as her appetite, are endless. To survive, she’ll need to reconcile the two, and it is the tension between these two contrasting desires that anchor this beautiful book.