Joyful Exercise, Holland
I think this photo from Leonard Freed does a good job capturing the “Well, Well, Well: Picturing Wellness” exhibition message of capturing what it means to be well. I think this picture captures “what it means to be well” for a few reasons. First I think there is the obvious piece of seeing these older women participate in some sort of exercise using their arms and sitting in a chair. However, I also think the women faces are really telling and for me send more of a message of “wellness”. The women on the left seems to be really concentrating on this exercise and has very straight arms and you can tell she wants to do these exercise properly. The women in the middle is grinning, and appears as though she is having a good time and is happy to be there. The women on the right has her eyes closed and head back and appears to be in a almost meditative state. I think through their body language and facial expressions these women are showing three different states of “wellness” and although from an outside perspective the idea of participating in an “exercise” class from a chair may seem a little sad or boring, these women are clearly showing that it can be effective and fun.
Leonard Freed, American, 1929 – 2006. (1960). Joyful Exercise, Holland. [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://library.artstor.org/asset/28163296
This is a good, close reading of the mood of the image and the participants.