If you missed part 1, check back here: for Fat Art in History Part the 1st. As I said then, “Your reminder today? Beauty is a cultural ideal. It changes. It is not static. It is never more “right” at one point in time than in another. There’s a reason the saying “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” continues to be such a powerful one. Diversity is not a four letter word. Embrace it for a few moments here.”
These are works of art throughout history which showcase a range of body types. Something I feel it bears repeating and has encouraged me showing these images: not only is beauty a fluid and non-static concept; bodies have always come in a widely diverse set of shapes and sizes; no matter how often folks may want to convince you that bodies should (and always have) come in one very narrow set of “Right” dimensions.
Martha Nilsson Edelheit’s “View of the Empire State Building from Sheep Meadow” (1972)
Michaelangelo’s “Sibilla Cumana” (1508-1510)
Peter Paul Ruebens [entire works really] “Bacchus” (1638-1640)
Peter Paul Ruebens [entire works really] “Venus at a Mirror” (1615)
Elizabeth Catlett “Tired” (1946)
