I live in one of the best suburbs in the country. I mean, It’s the perfect place to raise a family and that’s why we chose it. We all know each other and actually, we gather together every Sunday at one of the houses to enjoy a good barbecue among friends. Life couldn’t be more gratifying and I am very pleased we’re all doing great. We are, after all, the best neighborhood in the county.
There is only one family doing not so well, the Andersons. They live right across the street, handsome husband, gorgeous wife, three kids, and the cutest dog. They moved in just last year, and things seemed to be working out quite well for them; in the last few months he’s gotten a new car, renovated their kitchen and gone on holiday several times. She wears gorgeous dresses all the time, and the fabrics? Well, they’re to die for.
Oh, the dresses… We all envy her style, she looks as if she stepped out of a Hollywood movie . Did I tell you that the other day a man asked her if she was Debbie Reynolds? Can you imagine? Debbie Reynolds buying groceries? It was hilarious. We were very good friends; you know, I was the first one who introduced her to everyone, but one day out of the blue things changed. There’s something odd going on in that house. I haven’t seen her husband in days, and I can’t see anyone around as I peek through the white fence. Sometimes she notices I’m watching from my living room window, and she just waves and goes back inside. Their kids still go to school; but my Michael says they’re acting weird as well, the three of them only talk to each other and sit on the playground and watch the others play.
Wait a minute, that’s her… shhh. Wait, what is she holding? Is that a… chainsaw? Why on earth would she use a chainsaw for?… Oh my god!
This short story could have so many possible endings, but I bet two of them have already popped into your mind. In the first you might ask, where’s her husband? Perhaps the chainsaw she was trying to conceal is the murder weapon. It could be that quaint little house is a murder scene.
The second, less dramatic ending, is that the couple broke up, and she’s obviously sad, which explains her seclusion and the kids’ attitude. She doesn’t want gossiping neighbors meddling in her life, which is the main reason why she stopped hanging out with our nosy narrator.
Now, how do you explain the chainsaw? Our story takes place in the glorious fifties, a time of progress, as well as backward thinking. Of course, the fact that our chic character might be going through a divorce would make her a target of public scorn, so she would rather keep a low profile. The reason our narrator was so shocked by this chainsaw totting housewife is that it went against the roles established by her society. Why is the image so jarring still?
Just like the short fiction, the elements of these illustrations are free to be interpreted as you will. Kelly Reemtsen creates paintings of female bodies dressed in beautiful and colorful vintage outfits, holding heavy tools such as chainsaws, hammers, axes, among others. The imagery is simple, but at the same time raises very important questions regarding violence, female empowerment, and gender roles.
What this artist describes as modern femininity, might be confusing for the spectators due to the many contrasts her paintings have. At first we may be distracted by the bright colors, but after a moment of appreciating the textures and elements of her artwork, many questions begin to arise.
Why are they wearing vintage dresses? Why are they carrying these tools?
Why are some of them hiding them behind their voluminous skirts?
Why can we only see their bodies and not their faces?
But first things first, let’s look at the two main elements: women and tools. Why do we feel as if they’re contrasting elements? Here is where the modern idea of femininity steps in. For ages, we’ve believed that femininity is only linked with delicacy and tenderness. The stunning dresses evoke this idea, but today femininity doesn’t mean it lacks strength, but is the essence and nature of women. In that way, her images convey the idea of female empowerment and strong attitudes towards life. Also, these images show how nowadays there’s the possibility of breaking stereotypes and roles associated with gender. Are tools only meant to be used by men? Of course not!
Now, why are her characters anonymous? The answer here is not to remain faceless, but to make female spectators relate to them. They become mirrors where we can just add our own faces and feel identified with the power of these women. If you think about it, their artifacts are meant to break, tear, and build. In the same way, we can use our abilities to break stereotypes, tear outdated gender ideas, and build a new conception of femininity.
Somehow there’s the weird belief that empowered women who fight for their rights can’t be entirely feminine. These elements, femininity and empowerment, are often seen as contradictory, since one represents society’s role patterns, and the other the one who wants to break it. But just as Reemtsen’s paintings show, there’s always a meeting point.***
If you want to see more of this artist’s work on modern femininity, check her Official Website:
Kelly Reemtsen
