Dock Builders George Bellows

George Welsey Bellows was an American painter, known for his bold depictions of urban life in New York City. He was born in Columbus, Ohio. He attended Ohio State University from 1901 until 1904, where he was encouraged to become a professional baseball player because of his talent, but lacked the interest. He worked as a commercial illustrator while a student, and though he continued to accept magazine assignments throughout his life, Bellows desired enough success as a painter to avoid having to rely on illustration for income. He left OSU in 1904 without graduating and moved to New York City to study art. Bellows was soon a student of Robert Henri at the New York School of Art, and became associated with Henri's "The Eight" and the Ashcan School, a group of artists who advocated painting contemporary American society in all its forms. By 1906, Bellows was renting his own studio. Bellows first achieved notice in 1908, when he and other pupils of Henri organized an exhibition of mostly urban studies. While many critics considered these to be crudely painted, others found them welcomely audacious and a step beyond the work of their teacher. His fame grew as he contributed to other nationally recognized juried shows.