Artwork Page for Business Men's Class

Details / Information for Business Men's Class

Business Men's Class

1916

George Bellows

(American, 1882–1925)
Culture
America
Medium
lithograph
Measurements
Sheet: 54.1 x 70 cm (21 5/16 x 27 9/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Leonard C. Hanna Jr. 1936.630
Catalogue raisonné
Mason 20
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print
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Did You Know?

The painter George Bellows resided at the West Side YMCA, where this scene takes place, which had 300 beds for men relocating to New York City.

Description

This scene takes place at the West Side YMCA, where George Bellows lived when he arrived in New York City from Columbus, Ohio, in 1904. Worry about the potentially debilitating impact of sedentary office jobs inspired new forms of exercise, such as calisthenics. Here, we see the artist’s satirical eye, as men of various body types and abilities attempt to mimic the graceful movements of the instructor.
A horizontally oriented lithograph in grainy black ink depicts a dense crowd of men with light skin tones. On a platform, a muscular man with his back to us leads a group with varying body types, from lean to portly. Wearing singlets and trousers, they stretch their arms. Shading is created with heavy, gestural lines. In the background, signs labeled MASSAGE and RULES OF HEALTH appear, while spectators watch from an upper left balcony.

Business Men's Class

1916

George Bellows

(American, 1882–1925)
America

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