A Balancing Act

Live at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is “Stag by Sharkey’s,” (1909) perhaps George Bellows’ (1882-1925) most famous painting.  Filled with action, movement, and perfect lighting, the painting depicts a boxing scene that is as graceful and beautiful as it is raw, real, and violent.

Bellows died at the young age of 43 as a painter part of the Aschan School. The artistic school was known for its rejection of French impressionism and glorification of the American West in favor of portraying the real disarray of new American cities. Bellows in particular depicted the “grittiness, violence, and masculinity” of New York City.  However, throughout the remainder of his career, Bellows experimented with other painting subjects, varying from standard portrait types exhibiting piercing and frightening eyes, to landscape and an extreme use of light contrast, perhaps to portray his perspective on the disparity between light and darkness within the new city.  In personal opinion, his earliest works of the budding city are his most invigorating and impactful on the viewer.

The scene of “Stag by Sharkey’s” depicts a turn of the century illegal fight club in New York. At the time, prize fighting was illegal, so men turned to underground alternatives for prize fighting.

Upon live view, Bellow’s painting is a hundred times more powerful than its digital replica. The command of Bellow’s rough and thick brush strokes reach out to the viewer and pulls him into 1909. The painting places the viewer in the third row of the fight, amidst the crowd, the noise, and the sweat. While both men are fighting each other, their grace in movement resembles a choreographed dance. The man on the left’s leg is extended, almost at point, and

continues through the arch of his back. The man on the right reflects a mirrored curve to his back, as they meet in collision in the center.  These lines are also present in the muscle detail of each man; strong and graceful pieces that work together to generate a force much larger than the individual.

Standing in front of this painting elicits real emotion. It is the perfect balance between light and darkness, roughness and grace, detail and ambiguity.    It tells the story of a dirty and real New York, filled with excitement and uncertainty. While the city faces accusations of gentrification and a loss of its once gritty backbone, Bellows reminds us of the raw backbone of the city, and how it is perfectly balanced and beautiful in all of its glory.