Created from high-quality wood, milled with simple clean lines and presented with a satin finish. Includes an off-white mount that will not discolour or fade with age. - Simple, elegant design - Premium, fine art paper with a gently textured surface - Handmade by specialist picture framers - FSC certified off-white mat / window mount - Delivered ready for hanging

"Stag at Sharkey's" (1909) by George Bellows stands as one of the most dynamic and visceral depictions of early 20th-century American urban life, encapsulated through the raw and brutal energy of an illegal boxing match. The painting portrays two sweaty and muscular boxers locked in ferocious combat inside the dimly-lit, smoke-filled confines of Sharkey’s Athletic Club, a saloon and boxing club in New York City. The club was known for its unsanctioned, bare-knuckle fights, and Bellows masterfully captures the immediacy and intensity of this clandestine world.

Composition and Elements:
The composition is intensely focused, centering on the two boxers whose bodies are entangled mid-fight, presenting a dramatic clash of human forms and physicality. The central figure lunges forward, his muscles rippling with strain and determination, while his opponent reels back from the force of the blow, his expression one of absorbed pain and concentration.

Use of Light and Color:
Bellows employs a stark chiaroscuro effect to dramatic advantage. The fighters are illuminated by an almost spotlight-like glow, which highlights the sheen of sweat on their bodies and the ferocity of their movements. In contrast, the dim background is painted in broad, dark strokes, giving a sense of depth and enclosing the scene in an almost claustrophobic atmosphere. The color palette is dominated by earthy tones – the ochres, browns, and deep reds reflect both the physical environment of the ring and the intensity of the combatants’ efforts.

Background Figures:
The audience, depicted with blurred and simplified features, forms a dense, shadowy ring around the fighters. The onlookers’ varied postures and expressions convey their engrossed vigilance, creating a circumference of anxious energy that frames the central action. This crowd serves both as a contextual setting and as a visual reinforcement of the clandestine, underworld aura of Sharkey’s.

The Artist - George Bellows:
George Bellows (1882-1925) was a prominent American realist painter, renowned for his vigorous and often gritty depictions of contemporary urban scenes. A key member of the Ashcan School, a movement dedicated to portraying the unvarnished truth of American city life, he brought a distinctive immediacy and authenticity to his subjects. Bellows’ work is celebrated for its bold realism, dynamic composition, and the psychological depth he lends to his portrayals of human experience.

Artistic Context and Career:
"Stag at Sharkey’s" is one of Bellows’ most famous works and a vital component of his series of boxing paintings. These works mark a significant period in his career, reflecting his fascination with the raw vitality and unfiltered reality of urban life. The painting contrasts starkly with the more genteel subjects often depicted in American art at the time, thus positioning Bellows as a pivotal figure in the transition toward more modernist approaches.

Location:
The original "Stag at Sharkey’s" is housed at the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland, Ohio. Acquired as a gift from special contributions in 1922, the painting remains a highlight of the museum’s American collection.

Noteworthy Details:
- Technique: Bellows’ use of thick, expressive brushstrokes conveys a sense of immediacy and action, a hallmark of his style. The painting’s visceral energy is further heightened by his vigorous application of paint and the tactile quality of his markings.
- Influence: The depiction of such unsanctioned violence in sport speaks to broader societal themes of survival, conflict, and the human condition. Bellows’ portrayal of these themes through the lens of urban realism provided a critical counter-narrative to more idyllic representations of American life at the time.
- Legacy: "Stag at Sharkey’s" is widely regarded as a masterpiece of early 20th-century American realism and continues to be celebrated for its powerful portrayal of human struggle and resilience.

"Stag at Sharkey’s" epitomizes George Bellows’ talent for capturing the raw dynamism and unvarnished reality of urban life. Through his bold use of light, color, and composition, Bellows not only documents a specific cultural practice but also probes deeper questions about human nature and the societal conditions of his time.