Artwork
Tennis
Tennis is an ink print by George Bellows. It dates from 1920 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
George Bellows’ 1920 lithograph, titled Tennis, presents a bustling park scene centered on a tennis match. Rendered in black on chine collé, the print captures a crowd of players and onlookers, conveying the lively atmosphere of early‑twentieth‑century recreation.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on the dynamics of a public tennis game, juxtaposing the athletes in mid‑stroke with spectators lining the sidelines. The arrangement highlights both competition and communal enjoyment, reflecting the social role of sport as a shared leisure activity in urban parks.
Technique & Style
Created through lithography, the work employs stark black lines on a thin paper support, emphasizing contrast and movement. Bellows’ handling of line and shading imparts a sense of kinetic energy, while the simplified palette underscores the immediacy of the scene rather than detailed realism.
History & Provenance
Bellows produced the print in 1920, a period when he explored urban and recreational subjects beyond his well‑known boxing scenes. The lithograph has been held in several public collections, illustrating the artist’s continued interest in documenting everyday American life through printmaking.
Own this work as a print
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.
