Why is Stag at Sharkey's much more than a boxing painting? Here are a few reasons:

• Stag night & wild stags
• A thrilled, expectant arena
• George Wesley Bellows – Ashcan art star

Boxing may seem brutish. But it makes a masterpiece of Stag at Sharkey's. George Wesley Bellows uses realistic representation and abstract blurring here. This heightens the excitement around the action. It gives viewers the immediate feeling of recognition. Oh! I know what this is about. There's so much happening at the center. Boxers and a referee draw us into the contest. But there's more to the story. It's not a mere popcorn moment. Sure, boxers fight in the painting. In fact, Bellows often portrayed boxing. It was one of his favorite subjects.

Dive a bit deeper into this and more masterpieces with a click to LadyKflo's Art Blog.

https://www.ladykflo.com/stag-at-sharkeys-by-george-wesley-bellows/