The Grove, Monhegan

Off the coast of Maine sits Monhegan Island, a rocky little place that has pulled painters toward it for generations. George Bellows made the trip in 1911 and clearly fell hard for what he found there, from the steep cliffs to the tangled woods and the endless blue Atlantic stretching out past them. His enthusiasm shows in the thick, energetic paint, none more so than the golden tree glowing near the center of the scene, which seems to catch fire against the deep greens crowding around it.

Most people know Bellows for his rough-and-tumble boxing matches and his crowded pictures of New York City, so this calm coastal view reveals a softer corner of his work. He seems to have worked fast, shaping the trees and rocks out of loose, blocky strokes instead of careful detail. The painting has a raw and immediate quality, as though Bellows cared more about capturing the mood of the island than copying it exactly. Between the dark trees you catch a glimpse of the sea, a small window onto the water that gives the whole scene a sense of open air and space.