1921
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
The White Hope is a 1921 by George Bellows, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This print shows two boxers in a ring, one throwing a punch. The darker fighter has his arm extended while the lighter one flinches back. Their faces look tense and focused. The fight marks a dark moment in American history. In 1910, Jack Johnson beat James J. Jeffries in a match promoters called the "fight of the century." Riots broke out across the country after the win. Check out more by George Bellows at The Cleveland Museum of Art.
After Jack Johnson became the first African American world heavyweight champion in 1908, a series of boxing promoters searched for a “Great White Hope” who could dethrone him. Analyzing the facial features of the two fighters in this print, some scholars believe its subject commemorates Johnson’s victory over former champion James J. Jeffries in 1910. The outcome of this proclaimed “fight of the century” sparked racially motivated riots in more than 50 cities across 25 states, leaving 20 people dead. Whether or not The White Hope can be associated with a specific bout, Bellows’s image…
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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