The Model 

George Bellows created this lithograph, *The Model*, at some point during his career as a painter and printmaker. The image presents a figure study, rendered in a seemingly unposed manner, and it embodies several tensions that speak to the social and artistic climate of early 20th-century America. Bellows's artistic circle, while engaging with modern art movements, often grappled with traditional notions of beauty and representation. The model's direct gaze challenges viewers, blurring lines between objectification and artistic interpretation. Consider the cultural expectations of women during this era. The image's realism perhaps served as a commentary on the evolving role of women in society. To fully grasp Bellows's work, scholars often turn to period documents such as exhibition reviews and artists' manifestos. The meaning of art is never fixed, but always changes according to its social and institutional context.