About This Lesson
George Bellows’ Stag at Sharkey’s provides a compelling entry point for an inquiry study into the gritty world of prizefighting and its connection to evolving notions of masculinity in turn-of-the-century America.
In the early 1900s, prizefighting was a wildly popular yet brutal sport, offering fame and fortune to a fortunate few while leaving many athletes physically and financially broken. In New York City, boxing was undergoing a transformation—from a bloody spectacle to the disciplined “sweet science of bruising.” This inquiry study invites students to explore this pivotal shift, uncovering the social and cultural forces that shaped both George Bellows’ art and the dynamic era he depicted.
Using news accounts from The Evening World, Joseph Pulitzer’s sensational newspaper that catered to New York’s growing immigrant population, students research stories of their choosing. The paper’s dramatic accounts, lively illustrations, and bold advertisements provide an entertaining and insightful lens into the times. These historical artifacts also offer students opportunities to analyze point of view and uncover societal values. Through this lens, students can examine turn-of-the-century notions of masculinity and reflect on what this controversial pastime reveals about the cultural attitudes of the period.
