An Impressive Impressionist Portrayal of Strength
The Prowess of Gustave Caillebotte’s painting, "The Floor Scrapers"
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Exercise is a form of manual labor, which is why some of the most effective workout movements are derived from physical and functional tasks in fields such as farming and construction. Two examples are farmer’s walks and wood choppers. Both of these exercises are great for developing a strong and balanced core that enables us to effectively lift, move and manipulate heavy objects.
One of the best depictions of manual labor and the prowess of the workforce is exemplified by French Impressionist Gustave Caillebotte’s 1875 oil painting The Floor Scrapers. The Impressionist artists from the nineteenth century sought to depict reality as it was experienced. Some of the movement’s defining characteristics include color palettes that are indicative of the shifting natural light and subject matter that portrays quotidian experiences. To highlight modern life, Impressionist artists were inspired by the social and environmental conditions of the time they lived and worked in. Perspectives of the working class were a particularly common themes in Impressionist art.
Unlike other notable Impressionist paintings that similarly show laborers hard at work (i.e. Gustave Courbet’s 1849 canvas, the Stone Breakers), The Floor Scrapers elevates the physical toiling and corporeal force of manual labor. Caillebotte’s attention to detail and portrayal of each individual’s physique, signifies labor as an action that is indicative of peak fitness and endurance. The bright yellow light pouring through the window highlights the well-defined muscles of the three hard working men. The contraction of the workers’ muscles are mirrored by the curved shapes on the iron window bars, which is a symbolic indication of their physical robustness and durability.
Looking at The Floor Scrapers reminds us that physical fitness takes on many forms. You don’t have to have a set gym or exercise routine in order to become fit. Elements of functional fitness are intrinsic within everyday tasks and manual labor. Pairing physically demanding work with a strategic workout plan builds practical strength and endurance that will pay dividends with regards to performing well on and off the job.