
Both Members of this Club is not just a title given to this work of art, but it encompasses the meaning of this painting as well. The title obviously refers to the two men in the ring, one black and one white, which are entangled in a fight. However, this fight is not a battle between two different races, but a battle between two men. They both belong to the same fight club, and therefore have more in common than one would initially think. This is not about the difference between people, but instead is about the similarities, despite what stands out to the viewer. 

Although this is an image of two fighters in a ring, it is important to realize that only one of the fighters is the real center of attention, along with the center of attention. There is a difference in the stance between the white man and the more dominant black man, as the latter is in charge of the fight. The image is dominated by darker colors, as the painting is a dark black on top of the white audience members. As this is a painting from 1909, a time of more racial discrimination than of today, a scene like this stands out as it is different from what many people of the time would be used to. The black fighter is the first piece of the painting that stands out, as he is the largest piece to the painting, and it is in human nature to notice the race of a human before any other feature. His struggle and goal is the same as the white fighter; he is striving to be the victor in this match. 

The only blood in the scene is found upon the face and body of the white man. However, the color red is found mainly in the left side of the image, also on the faces of the white audience members hanging along the ropes of the ring. Unlike the majority of the individuals in the audience, they appear worried about the outcome of the current scenario, indicating that they are cheering for the white man. Like blood in a boxing match, the color red indicates weakness, as the current leader in the fight appears clean and untouched due to the lack of blood on his body, even though this would be common on any individual in the middle of a boxing match. The scene grows more chaotic as the eye travels across the scene to the left, as there is more of a frenzy amongst the crowd. This left side is the side of the only light source in the scene, engulfing the fighters in a spotlight and illuminating the faces of the crowd near the ring. 

A face is very important, not only in art, but also in everyday life, as a face is the most significant physical feature that defines a person. It not only represents a person as an individual, but also is what provides a sense of familiarity and comfort to another person. The removal of a face from a person is what creates fear, as this connection is lost. This is why a face behind a mask causes fear, it removes the identity of the individual. In this image, Bellows only provides faces to those who are nearest to the ring. It is only the first row of spectators which have faces, as the faces of the spectators behind are blended and begin to morph into one another the farther they are from the ring. Each individual loses their individuality and becomes nothing more than another shape in a vast crowd. Due to the lack of knowledge of the expressions on each face, the viewer must assume that the reactions of the crowd members are similar or the same as those near the ring. This assumption is the cause of the loss of individuality, and how a single person is insignificant in a group of people. If this painting were unveiled to a large crowd, the crowd would most likely have the same overall reaction towards the piece, despite all the differences amongst the individuals. 

Of the faces that are visible, the majority of the expressions on the faces display excitement and enjoyment from watching the fight. As stated earlier, the use of blood highlights the violence of the sport, as it is a physical beating of the body of another person. No one in the crowd is upset to see someone being physically destroyed. The crowd urges the fighters to inflict violence on each other, and are not sympathetic of the fighters in the ring. More importantly, the crowd is not upset to see a white man being beaten by a black man. This scene takes place in the early 1900s, which means racism was still prevalent at the time. However, the crowd ignores the racial difference in the fighters and only is united in their passion for the sport. The crowd treats the fight the same way as it would two white men fighting each other. 

For the spectators of the fight, the fight is not about race. However, this is the first thing that a viewer of the painting would notice. This would be most easily seen if the races of the fighters were switched. What if the image was of a white man beating a black man, with a gleeful white crowd cheering it on? To the spectators, this would have no impact, as they are cheering on two fighters, not two races. However, a modern day viewer of the image would be quick to call the image racist, and how the image displays white dominance over blacks. What if the painting were of two black men fighting against each other, while being cheered on by the same crowd? Then this image would be considered even more racist, as it would appear the whites enjoy nothing more than two black men be used for their own entertainment. In the viewer’s eye, the fighters would now be cattle used by whites rather than people. The fact that this image shows a black man beating a white man does not actually truly matter. The fact that a viewer of the image assumes the painting is about race is the most significant fact. Viewers of art look for symbols or signs in art that can lead to a conclusion, and race stands out first. The fact that race first comes to mind is a sign that humans are obsessed with race to begin with. To say that an image of a white man being beaten by a black man is fine, but the other way around would be racist would mean anyone who points this out is racist themselves. Why is the painting not racist the way it stands now? Would the image suddenly be racist if the artist was black? The fact that humans are obsessed with differences such as race and not with similarities is not something that is told by the spectators of the boxing match in the painting, but is displayed by the viewer of the image themselves. The audience in the scene only cares for the fight and how both are men of the same club, so both are therefore equivalent. 

The irony is not lost in the fact that just bringing race into this essay supports the fact that humans are obsessed with race. This is the difference between the viewer of a work of art and the subject of a work of art. This is a painting that throws race into the face of the viewer, but states that race should not make two people different in a sport such as this one. Both fighters are striving for the same goal, and despite all their differences, in the ring both are members of the same club. 

