Ohioan George Bellows’ pictures speak for themselves, especially his Stag at Sharkey’s, the picture that not only taught the world how to see a boxing match, but also set a new artistic standard. And while the pictures speak for themselves, Mary Sayre Haverstock’s accessible writing speaks for George Bellows.

In George Bellows: An Artist in Action, Haverstock’s commentary, artistic analysis, research, and clear and accessible writing bring Bellows into focus as an artist, an Ohioana, and a man who died too soon. Author Haverstock brings back a place and a time in her re-creation of Bellows’ Columbus, Ohio childhood. She also drew on many contemporary accounts of Bellows’ work, as well as interviews with Bellows and commentary from art critics of the day.

Haverstock worked diligently to understand the social milieu in which Bellows worked, as evidenced by her writing and her bibliography, which includes the autobiography of anarchist Emma Goldman and one of Jack London’s works on social issues.

Mary Sayre Haverstock was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts and received her B.A. in Fine Arts from Radcliffe in 1954. Ms. Haverstock has been an Oberlin resident since 1985. She has written articles on art and art history for state and national publications since 1966, and has authored or coauthored three books as well as this year’s wining entry.