Artist: Paul Rutz

Oil and gold leaf on carved plywood: 47” x 28” x 1”

Hercules seems to have trickled into contemporary American consciousness as an icon of great muscles and strength, not so much the labors and tragedy in the story. By dedicating to certain routines in the gym, the model here, a CrossFit coach, has become a picture of strength that I think helps open up our definition of feminine beauty.