The artwork, titled “Taking the Count” and created by Thomas Eakins in 1898, is an oil painting on canvas that belongs to the Realism art movement. It is a genre painting and is currently housed at the Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven, Connecticut, United States.
In this painting, Eakins vividly captures a moment in a boxing match. Dominating the foreground, there are three figures: two boxers and a referee, who is dressed in formal attire. The standing boxer on the left, bare-chested and muscular, is poised with a determined expression. To his right, the referee, with a solemn demeanor, directs his gaze downward, presumably counting out the fallen opponent. The defeated boxer, positioned on his hands and knees, seems to be gathering his strength, embodying a moment of vulnerability and struggle. The background is filled with spectators, creating a sense of depth and public engagement, and various posters on the walls add to the scene’s authenticity and period character. The meticulous details and naturalistic depiction exemplify Eakins’ mastery and commitment to Realism.
