Use this fast-paced game to explore George Bellows’ art and see how his paintings and illustrations provide an unflinching view of early 20th century America.

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George Bellows was a prominent Ashcan School artist, renowned for his gritty street scenes of New York City. He vividly depicted immigrant neighborhoods, construction sites, and illicit prizefights. As an activist artist, he contributed illustrations to The Masses, a magazine that promoted Progressive causes and reforms. His seascapes, family portraits, and even his war scenes, bore witness to the world around him. His art offers an unflinching view of early 20th-century America.

Big questions to consider

• Does George Bellows’ art offer unique insights into historical events?
• What media lend themselves to activist messages?
• How do artists inspire and learn from each other?
• Are Bellows’ paintings straightforward transcriptions of everyday life or, is he a subtle social critic, exposing the complexities and tensions in contemporary society?

Historical events and trends

• Advancements that influenced the Technological Revolution (Second Industrial Revolution)  
• The impact of urbanization on American society
• Progressive causes and reforms
• Different views of World War I

Visual literacy skills you will practice

• Identify historical artifacts
• Read a painting’s narrative
• Recognize a media’s inherent qualities
• Appreciate visual satire
• Interpret an artist’s interests and outlook
• Track an artist’s artistic development