Artwork

Dempsey through the Ropes

Dempsey through the Ropes, by George Bellows, ink, 1924
Dempsey through the Ropes, by George Bellows, ink, 1924

Dempsey through the Ropes is an ink print by George Bellows. It dates from 1924 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Dempsey through the Ropes is a 1924 lithograph by George Bellows, capturing a dramatic moment in a boxing match.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a boxer leaning over the ropes, surrounded by a frenzied crowd. The title references Jack Dempsey, a renowned boxer, but the artwork's focus is on conveying the intensity of the scene.

Technique & Style

Bold lines and a dark, smudgy style characterize the lithograph, emphasizing the boxer's physicality and the energy of the moment. The crowd is rendered as a blurred, abstracted mass, heightening the sense of tension.

Artist & collection

Portrait of George Bellows

Artist

George Bellows

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.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.