Artwork
Both Members of This Club
Both Members of This Club is an oil painting by the Realist artist George Bellows. It dates from 1909 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
George Bellows’ oil on canvas titled Both Members of This Club was completed in October 1909. Measuring roughly 115 by 160.5 centimeters, the work is part of the collection at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. It depicts a moment of intense physical confrontation between two boxers.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures a clandestine boxing bout staged at Tom Sharkey’s Athletic Club in New York, where fighters were temporarily admitted as club members to evade municipal bans on public matches. Bellows’ focus on the raw energy of the fight reflects the underground nature of the sport at the time.
Technique & Style
Bellows employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, juxtaposing deep shadows with bright highlights to model the figures and heighten the sense of drama. The vigorous brushwork and stark tonal contrasts convey the kinetic force of the combatants and the chaotic atmosphere of the venue.
History & Provenance
Created as a sequel to Bellows’ earlier work Stag at Sharkey’s, Both Members of This Club remained in private hands before being acquired by the National Gallery of Art. Its provenance traces a direct line from the artist’s studio to the museum’s collection, where it has been on display since its accession.
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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.
