Boxing Match

George Luks probably based this painting on the heavyweight championship fight held on July 4, 1910, between Jack Johnson and Jim Jeffries. The bout stirred up racial tensions in turn-of-the-century America, as Jeffries became the latest "Great White Hope" to try to reclaim the title from the African-American Johnson. Johnson won the match and race riots ensued in several American cities. Luks portrayed a dramatic moment in the fight-just after the African-American boxer has delivered a knockout punch to his opponent. Luks was a member of the Ashcan School, so named for the participating artists' depiction of gritty urban scenes. A keen fan of the sport, Luks gave himself boxing nicknames, including "Lame-em Luks," and died from injuries he suffered in a bar brawl in 1933.