Life — March 17, 1921 — page 15: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This lithograph by George Bellows depicts an urban nighttime scene titled "Spring." The image shows a woman in dark clothing standing prominently in the foreground on a tree-lined street or park path, with several other figures visible in the background. The woman appears to be a sex worker or street figure, based on her positioning and the composition's focus on her solitary stance among passersby. The work likely critiques urban social conditions during the early 20th century, using "Spring" as ironic counterpoint to the gritty, morally ambiguous street life depicted. Bellows was known for documenting working-class and marginalized urban scenes, presenting social realism rather than sanitized romanticism.