George Bellows Research

Today I chose George Bellows and I would like to look at his artworks and discuss about it.

The first painting I would like discuss is paint titled “ George Bellows, Both Members of This Club, 1909, oil on canvas, 115 x 160.5 cm (National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.)”  the painting I will leaving below.

George Bellows, Both Members of This Club, 1909, oil on canvas, 115 x 160.5 cm (National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.)

Painting depicts boxing match between two mans in a ring. Bellows would emphasise and shows emotions durning that sport event. As smarthistory.org (2015) states “ Bellows applied paint with a quickness and sketchiness that echoes the energetic movement of the athletes and the flickering of low light as it bounces across the faces of the rowdy, restless audience.”

The second artwork created by George Bellows is related to boxing too as one above. This one is titled: A Stag at Sharkey's,  created in 1917. To create this one was used lithographic ink. As collectionsarts.mia.org state “His best known lithograph, A Stag at Sharkey’s, is based on his own 1909 painting of the subject, an illegal prizefight”

Bellow G A Stag at Sharkey's, 1917

As Christie’s (2020) states: 

*at live auction Price realised was USD 87,500 Closed: 25 Oct 2018

* Bellows executed the subject first in 1909 as an oil painting. At the time, boxing was illegal in New York, except for private clubs.

* Bellows was noted for his sporting themes, especially boxing.

* As a boxing fan ,Bellows visited various clubs, such as Sharkey’s Athletic Club.  The bar owner was Tom Skarkey who charged fees for membership to fight in a bar.

What have others stated about the work?

” A brilliant draftsman, Bellows captures the intensity and drama of the fighters’ violent encounter, their bodies seemingly merged into a single form and rendered as if a classical statue. He omits the ropes on the near side of the ring so as not to obstruct the formal beauty of the scene.”.  Artsmia
 2024

Do I agree what with other have said?

Yes when I’m looking at that painting or lithograph I feel like I’m using “Time Machine” in my head I heard screams ,punches , noises of fight and a lot of men’s energy.

How does this work relate to my own work?
I would like to said I’m going to do major project related with sport and I would like to capture the emotions on my future paintings.

What can I learn from this and how will it inform my concept or progress?
I could learn technique of creating a painting to capture the moment and add emotions to it.

Reference:

     Dr. Abby R. Eron, "George Bellows, Both Members of This Club," in Smarthistory, August 9, 2015, accessed January 28, 2025, https://smarthistory.org/bellows-both-members-of-this-club/.

  “A Stag at Sharkey’s, George Bellows ^ Minneapolis Institute of Art.” @Artsmia, 2024, collections.artsmia.org/art/109688/a-stag-at-sharkeys-george-bellows. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

   “GEORGE BELLOWS (1882-1925), a Stag at Sharkey’s | Christie’s.” Christies.com, Christie’s, 2020, www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6166069. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.