Artists Judging Works of Art

George Bellows made several prints about the artist’s life, and of this one he wrote, “The result of a young artist’s first service on an official jury. For fear of offense none of the ‘likenesses’ will be painted out. They are whoever they are.” The scene probably takes place at the National Arts Club, a gathering spot for the Ashcan artists, but Bellows may have been recalling his service on the planning committee of the New York Armory Show in 1912, an important international art exhibition. Bellows included a self-portrait at the upper right and a portrait of artist Robert Henri seated at the lower right.