A knock down

A knock down

Item Information

Title:
A knock down
Title (alt.):
The knockdown - study for the white hope
Description:
A prize-fight in New York. (Bellows) / Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight champion, won his title from Jim Jeffries in Reno in 1910. He downed "The White Hope" three times in the fifteen round fight. The poised fighter in this [drawing] is Jack Johnson; the enervated "white hope" is Jim Jeffries. The flamboyant Johnson brought out the worst expressions of bigotry in his fellow countrymen. His liaisons with white women led to his indictment under the Mann Act for abducting one of them across state lines for illegal purposes. He was sentenced to a year and a day but preferred self-exile to imprisonment. Afraid that if he fought in the United States he would be jailed, Johnson to defend his title in Cuba on April 15, 1915. This time a "white hope" won. Jess Willard, six inches taller, twenty-five pounds lighter and four years younger became champion after twenty-six rounds. According to rumor, the fight had been fixed. A photo showed Johnson on his back being counted out while shading his eyes with his hand. (Mason)
Artist:
Bellows, George, 1882-1925
Name on Item:
Geo Bellows
Date:
[ca. 1916–1921]
Format:
Drawings/Illustrations
Genre:
Crayon drawings
Location:
Boston Public Library
Arts Department
Collection (local):
George Bellows (1882-1925). Prints and Drawings
Subjects:
Boxing
Boxers (Sports)
Sports spectators
Jeffries, James J., 1875-1953
Johnson, Jack, 1878-1946
Extent:
1 drawing : crayon on paper ; sheet 55 x 70 cm
Permalink:
https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/7d279v573
Terms of Use:
No known copyright restrictions.
No known restrictions on use.
Notes:
Title from item.
Alternative title from material accompanying item.
Study for the lithograph titled, "The white hope" (Mason: M. 96; Bellows: B. 44).
Additional information accompanying item: Signed.
Notes (acquisition):
Sold by H.V. Allison Galleries to Albert H. Wiggin, June 1943. Gifted to the Boston Public Library.
Notes (date):
Date supplied by cataloger.
Additional information accompanying item: Probably executed around 1916.
Notes (citation):
Mason, Lauris. "The lithographs of George Bellows : a catalogue raisonné." KTO Press, 1977, Millwood, N.Y.
Bellows, Emma. "George W. Bellows : his lithographs." A. A. Knopf, 1927, New York.
Accession #:
1943.1.12
Identifier:
06_05_000016
Barcode:
36666003814635