George BELLOWS - Forty-two boys (1907)

 

Forty-two boys

1907
Oil painting on canvas (107,5x153 cm)
Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington

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On the right of the pier, we find a very photographic detail: a boy staring at the culminating moment of a dive.

Bellows simplified the composition by using rapid brushstrokes with which he made the bodies of the boys, which conveys a sense of immediacy and the impression of the moment. A dramatic change from previous era painting, when painters preferred posed portraits and idyllic landscapes.

Early in his career he was influenced by a group of artists calling themselves "The Eight", whose art reflected the harsh and harsh city reality.

Bellows has often painted the vitality of the city, with crowded streets, he has also dedicated himself to portraits and landscapes; he never stopped experimenting even in moments of his life.

Both in his personal life and in his art, Bellows personified the enthusiasm and passion of the American spirit.

Comparing artists: Eakins, Hopper, Vuillard, Wyeth