Introducing the champion

Bellows, George, 1882-1925 · 1916

...The speech, the bow, the applause. -GB This is the earlier of the two versions of "Introducing the Champion"; Emma Bellows corrected the relative size and the date in the second edition of her catalogue. She did not correct the title of the later print--actually called "Introductions" (M. 97) by the artist. Consequently, both lithographs have been known as "Introducing the Champion," distinguished by the rather confusing modification "large" or "small." Bellows returned to the subject of the prize fights in his enthusiasm for the lithographic medium. He had not touched upon the fights for several years. This, like many of his lithographs, was based on an earlier drawing. The drawing, with the image reversed, was used as an illustration for the story, "The Last Ounce," in "American" magazine, April 1913. The animation and posturing of the spectators, seen from the rear, also provides the foreground for several of the fight prints. In "The Tournament" (M. 72), the spectators at the tennis match are more elegant; they are nonetheless reminiscent of those watching the introduction of the champion. (Mason)