The last count

Bellows, George, 1882-1925 · 1921

The enthusiastic fight buffs nearly pull down the ropes in their frenzy to hear the count. The victor stands aside--waiting for his moment of glory, as the referee, theatrically posed, counts the downed fighter "out. The spectator turned away from the action on the left is unfinished. The balding head peering into the ring at the right may be that of the artist himself. The foreground figures that appeared in "A Knock-Out" (M. 92) have been eliminated but the confusion of the various segments of the picture most likely still did not please Bellows. The copy in the Boston Public Library is believed to be unique, and Bellows did not note the print in his record book. (Mason)