The Barricade 1918

George Bellows, painted this canvas with oils, and it's full of figures caught in what seems like a moment of intense drama. I can almost feel the tension in the air, the weight of the scene pressing down. The artist has used these strong, almost sculptural forms to depict the figures, but then the brushwork, in contrast, is so loose and free. I see the humanity and vulnerability, but at the same time, a formal, structured composition holding it all together. I imagine Bellows in his studio, wrestling with the image, layering on the paint, scraping it back, trying to capture this raw, emotional moment. He's trying to create a space where we can really feel something. There's something about the way he's handled the paint that reminds me of Goya, or even some of the old masters, who were also dealing with these big, messy themes of life and death. It reminds us that artists have always looked to each other, and continue to, creating a dialogue across time.