Julie Bell
The Huntress (Lenda)
1996
Classification
Paintings
Medium
Oil on paper on board
Dimensions
Framed: 35 1/2 x 25 1/2 x 1 1/2 in. (90.2 x 64.8 x 3.8 cm)
Board: 30 × 16 7/8 in.
Image: 26 1/2 x 16 5/8 in. (67.3 x 42.2 cm)
This cover image for the 1999 publication Soft as Steel: The Art of Julie Bell features the eight-time Ms. Olympia winner Lenda Murray, one of history’s most decorated Black female bodybuilders. With the title The Huntress, Bell invites a comparison between Murray and the Roman goddess of the hunt, Diana, while incorporating the familiar imagery of fantasy painting, with dragons soaring across the sky in the background. In addition to this combination of classical and medieval tropes, Bell clads Murray in sleek high-tech accessories, giving her subject a futuristic, almost cyborg-like appearance.
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Stay connected with our latest news and programming.