Billy Sunday

Bellows, George, 1882-1925 · 1923

I like to paint Billy Sunday, not because I like him, but because I want to show the world what I do think of him. Do you know, I believe Billy Sunday is the worst thing that ever happened to America? He is Prussianism personified. His whole purpose is to force authority against beauty. He is against freedom, he wants a religious autocracy, he is such a reactionary that he makes me an anarchist. -GB, in "Touchstone," p. 270. The artist's intent to satirize Billy Sunday was evident to almost everyone but the evangelist himself. An earlier depiction of Billy Sunday in action is seen in "The Sawdust Trail" (M. 48) done in 1917. (Mason)