“The Grecian Bend,” created by the renowned American lithographers Currier and Ives in 1868, is a notable work from the Romanticism movement and falls under the genre of caricature. This artwork satirizes a prevalent fashion trend of the time, utilizing exaggerated features to humorous effect.
In the artwork, a female figure is depicted adopting an exaggerated posture, with her body bent forward at the waist and her posterior significantly accentuated, likely a critique of the fashion trend where women wore large bustles to create a pronounced curve in their silhouette. She is elegantly dressed in period attire, with a detailed gown adorned with patterns and frills, and a small parasol held delicately in her left hand. Her hair is elaborately styled, complemented by a decorative bonnet. The exaggerated nature of her posture and attire underscores the satirical intent of the piece, making it a humorous yet pointed commentary on the extremes of fashion.
