Artwork
The Plaid Shawl
The Plaid Shawl is a print by George Bellows. It dates from 1923 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1937.491
- Credit line
- Gift of Leonard C. Hanna Jr.
About this work
Overview
George Bellows produced the print The Plaid Shawl in 1923. The work is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection and exemplifies Bellows’s interest in portraying ordinary moments with a straightforward, unembellished realism.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a seated woman on a gently curving bench. She wears a long dress and a plaid shawl draped over her shoulders, her hair pulled back, and gazes directly ahead with a composed expression, suggesting a quiet, introspective pause in everyday life.
Technique & Style
Bellows employs chiaroscuro shading to model the figure’s face and the folds of her clothing, creating a sense of three‑dimensional form. The curved bench and the contrast between light and dark enhance the intimate atmosphere of the scene.
History & Provenance
Since its creation, the print has remained in the United States, eventually entering the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings where it is displayed as part of the museum’s representation of early‑20th‑century American realism.
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
