1909
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
Stag at Sharkey's is a 1909 unspecified by George Bellows, a Realism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This painting shows two boxers mid-fight, their bodies twisted in action. One man is in a black trunks, the other in red. The ring ropes frame the scene like a stage. Bellows painted this at Sharkey’s Athletic Club, a private boxing spot in New York. Back then, public boxing was illegal, so fights happened behind closed doors. The club’s owner, a ex-boxer and sailor, ran the place. Look for the tension in their faces and gloves. It’s raw energy. See it at The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Bellows was no stranger to Sharkey’s Athletic Club, a raucous saloon with a backroom boxing ring, located near his studio. Founded by Tom “Sailor” Sharkey, an ex-fighter who had also served in the US Navy, the club attracted men seeking to watch or participate in matches. Because public boxing was illegal in New York at the time, a private event had to be arranged in order for a bout to take place. Participation was usually limited to members of a particular club, but whenever an outsider competed, he was given temporary membership and known as a “stag.” Although boxing had its share of…
George Bellows was raised in Columbus, Ohio, and attended Ohio State University where he played baseball and basketball.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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.
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