Artwork
Reducing Exercises
Reducing Exercises is a print by George Bellows. It dates from 1916 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Reducing Exercises, a print by George Bellows, captures a domestic scene where a woman exercises to alter her physique while her male partner sleeps, reflecting early 20th-century beauty standards influenced by advertising and cinema.
Subject & Meaning
The print highlights the societal pressure on women to achieve a curvaceous yet slender figure, juxtaposed with male complacency. The woman’s diligent exercise contrasts with the sleeping man, commenting on gendered beauty expectations.
Technique & Style
While specific technical details of the print are not provided, Bellows’s work is generally characterized by expressive, detailed depictions of everyday life, suggesting Reducing Exercises may employ similar realistic and potentially satirical visual storytelling.
History & Provenance
First exhibited with a commentary by Bellows: “Gymnastics before retiring are supposed to reduce the flesh. The husband is contented with his figure.” This quote underscores the artwork’s thematic focus on societal beauty standards and gender dynamics.
Context
Created amidst the early 20th century’s shifting beauty ideals, influenced by the rise of advertising and Hollywood’s impact on body image, the piece reflects contemporary anxieties and aspirations regarding physical appearance.
Legacy
As part of Bellows’s oeuvre focusing on American everyday life, Reducing Exercises contributes to a broader commentary on social norms and gender roles, offering a historical glimpse into the era’s perceptions of beauty and domesticity.
Artist & collection
Artist
George Wesley Bellows (August 12 or August 19, 1882 – January 8, 1925) was an American realist painter, known for his bold depictions of urban life in New York City.
