Ox Team, Wharf at Matinicus 1916

George Bellows made this painting of an Ox Team at Matinicus Wharf with oil on canvas, and, wow, he just went for it! Look at the way he's built up the paint, thick strokes of color, especially in the foreground. It's like he's sculpting the scene rather than just painting it. You can almost feel the weight of the oxen and the rough texture of the wharf. And then there's the blue in the sky, and especially those blue marks in the oxen themselves, it’s so alive, like it's breathing. I feel like I'm right there, smelling the sea air and hearing the creak of the boat. Bellows was part of the Ashcan School, painting everyday life with a real gritty energy. You could also see an influence of someone like Manet. For Bellows, and for us too, art isn't about perfection, it's about capturing a moment, a feeling, with as much honesty and energy as possible, and leaving some room for doubt!