WHITE HOPE LITHOGRAPH BY BELLOWS SIGNED BY JOHNSON & JEFFRIES

History: George Wesley Bellows (1882-1925) was an American painter best remembered for his depictions of rural life in New York City. The Columbus Museum of Art described Bellows as “the most acclaimed American artist of his generation.” The paintings of George Bellows have sold in excess of 25 million dollars. In addition to painting Bellows made significant contributions to lithography and helped to expand its use as an art medium. Between 1921 and 1925 he collaborated with master printer Bolton Brown on more than 100 images. One of these images was “White Hope”, drawn by Bellows in 1921. White Hope was Bellows' interpretation of the end of the notable July 4, 1910 fight between Jack Johnson, the first African American to win the heavyweight title, and James Jeffries, the man anointed by the white community to win back the title for the white race. Jeffries, five years removed from active fighting, was no match for Johnson and was outclassed from the start and subsequently stopped. In this notable work Bellows has captured the end of the fight with Johnson standing over the fallen Jeffries as the referee counts him out. Offered here is an original, limited edition lithograph of White Hope which has been signed by the wife of George Bellows on the margin along with the printer Bolton Brown and significantly by both Jack Johnson and James Jeffries.

Full description: The lithograph is signed on the lower border in pencil by Bolton Brown (printer) and the artist George Bellows by his wife who added her initials E.S.B. The title “White Hope” is also written on the border along with the number "40" indicating this lithograph is number 40 of 50. The lithograph is on fragile china paper and measures 15 x 18 ” and with the full margins 16 x 20 ”. The lithograph has been mounted on board (at the margins) and there is some glue residue on the full margins. At the bottom portion of the lithograph it has been signed in fountain pen ink by Jack Johnson and "Jas." J. Jeffries. There is a small hole over the first "O" in Johnson made when Johnson applied the pen to the fragile paper. There is some minor age spotting which does not detract from the beauty of this piece. This is a very scarce original lithograph by George Bellows. Signed by both Jack Johnson and Jim Jeffries, it may well be unique and is one of the most significant boxing related artworks ever offered.