My Family 1916

George Bellows made this painting, "My Family," with oil on canvas and a real love for color. The overall feeling here is casual, with lots of luscious greens and purples. It’s like he’s showing us a moment, not posing one. The paint isn't trying to hide itself. Look closely, and you can see these quick, juicy strokes, especially in the awning up top – such a great way to suggest light. There are passages where the paint is thinned out, like in the white blanket, contrasting with the thicker, more opaque bits that make up the figures. That little doll has such a strange, knowing expression, doesn't she? Bellows was likely influenced by the impressionists, especially in his quick, expressive brushwork. It’s a nice reminder that art isn’t about copying the world, but about making something new out of it.