Club Night 1907

George Bellows made this painting of a boxing match, possibly in the early 20th Century. Look at the way he builds up the figures with these loose brushstrokes, almost like he’s wrestling with the paint itself. You can feel the energy of the match in every dab and smear, the process is right there on the canvas. The materiality of this painting is so important. The thick paint, especially on the fighters bodies, gives them a real sculptural presence. The colours are subdued, mostly browns and greys, but they make the occasional flash of red really pop. It’s like a punch in the gut! Notice the way the faces in the crowd are just sketched in, almost like ghosts. But they’re all focused on the drama in the ring, mouths agape! Bellows reminds me of Goya, who was also interested in violence and spectacle. But Bellows brings a uniquely American sensibility to the subject, a kind of raw, masculine energy. But it’s up to you, really. Art isn’t about easy answers, it’s more about keeping the conversation alive.