Reducing 

George Bellows made this lithograph, Reducing. In this print, Bellows has used lithography to capture the stark realities of life. With lithography, the artist draws on a stone or metal plate with a greasy crayon, then treats it with chemicals so that only the drawn areas attract ink. The print is then made by pressing paper against the inked surface. The rough, almost brutal quality of the lithographic lines mirrors the grim subject matter. Bellows doesn't shy away from showing the raw physicality of his subjects. The dark, shadowy tones, achieved through layering ink, add to the sense of confinement and despair. This artwork is an important reminder that artistic materials and processes are never neutral. They carry their own history and can be used to powerful effect.