1924
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
Portrait of Eugene Speicher, First Stone is a 1924 by George Bellows, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This sketch shows a man in a dark suit and tie, sitting still with a serious look. His hair is slicked back, and the drawing is mostly in black and white with some shading on his collar. The lines are loose, almost like quick pencil strokes, and the edges of the paper show where the artist’s hand stopped. The artist left his name in the corner—George Bellows—and wrote “First Stone” under the man’s chin. That might mean this was the start of a bigger project, or just a quick study. Check out George Bellows (American, 1882–1925) to see how he mixed bold brushwork with quiet portraits.
George Wesley Bellows (August 12 or August 19, 1882 – January 8, 1925) was an American realist painter, known for his bold depictions of urban life in New York City.
See the richer artist page
