George Bellows, The White Hope
Hanna Jr., 1936.644 · The Cleveland Museum of Art, Open Access (CC0)View original →
George Bellows

The White Hope

1921

Current Collection

Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Medium
lithograph
Dimensions
37.2 × 48 cm
Status
In Museum Collection
Collect24 Art ID
C24-203767

After Jack Johnson became the first African American world heavyweight champion in 1908, a series of boxing promoters searched for a “Great White Hope” who could dethrone him. Analyzing the facial features of the two fighters in this print, some scholars believe its subject commemorates Johnson’s victory over former champion James J. Jeffries in 1910. The outcome of this proclaimed “fight of the century” sparked racially motivated riots in more than 50 cities across 25 states, leaving 20 people dead. Whether or not The White Hope can be associated with a specific bout, Bellows’s image undercu…

Provenance

Hanna Jr., 1936.644

Registry history

  • 1921 — Recorded in the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art — prints

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