Artwork
My Family
My Family is an oil painting by the Realist artist George Bellows. It dates from 1916 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
George Bellows’ 1916 oil on canvas titled My Family presents an intimate outdoor scene. A woman in a purple dress cradles a young girl in pink while they sit on a couch beneath a green‑and‑white striped awning. Trees and foliage form a muted backdrop, framing the figures in a modest domestic setting.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on a mother‑daughter relationship, emphasizing tenderness and everyday life. The choice of vibrant clothing against the natural surroundings highlights the personal connection between the figures, suggesting a quiet moment of familial affection rather than a formal portrait.
Technique & Style
Bellows employs the fluidity of oil paint to render both the textures of fabric and the softness of the surrounding foliage. His handling of color balances the bright garments with the more subdued background, while the brushwork conveys a sense of immediacy typical of his early twentieth‑century approach.
History & Provenance
Created in 1916, My Family belongs to the period when Bellows was expanding beyond his well‑known urban scenes. The work has remained in private collections, with limited exhibition history, and continues to be referenced in studies of Bellows’ domestic subject matter.
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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.
