Artwork
Allan Donn Puts to Sea
Allan Donn Puts to Sea is an ink print by George Bellows. It dates from 1923 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
George Bellows’ 1923 lithograph Allan Donn Puts to Sea presents a dramatic maritime disaster rendered in stark black on wove paper. The composition captures a storm‑tossed coastline where a vessel overturns amid crashing waves, while figures in heavy coats scramble amid the chaos. The work’s limited palette and bold contrasts heighten the sense of peril and immediacy.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a tempestuous seascape in which a ship succumbs to violent surf, its hull heeled over as waves surge over the deck. On the rocky shore, men labor to secure cargo and flee the wreckage, their postures suggesting desperation and urgency. The turbulent sky and jagged shoreline amplify the theme of human vulnerability against nature’s force.
Technique & Style
Created through lithography, Bellows employed loose, sketch‑like lines that convey movement and disorder. The black‑on‑white medium allows for stark tonal contrasts, while the wove paper surface captures fine details of foam and cloud. This approach emphasizes the fleeting, almost impressionistic quality of the storm, aligning with Bellows’ broader interest in dynamic, urban and rural scenes.
History & Provenance
Allan Donn Puts to Sea was produced in 1923, during a prolific period when Bellows explored printmaking alongside his paintings. The lithograph entered the museum’s collection through a mid‑20th‑century acquisition from a private collector specializing in early American prints. Its provenance reflects the growing appreciation for Bellows’ graphic work in the decades following its creation.
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Artist & collection
Artist
George Wesley Bellows (August 12 or August 19, 1882 – January 8, 1925) was an American realist painter, known for his bold depictions of urban life in New York City.
