Majestic and strikingly handsome, this is a portrait of a boxer of color, reminiscent of Jack Johnson, pictured seated in repose, serenely in a tranquil moment before the fight. Has the Jack Johnson bullet head and skin color but is also current and points to future events, in that it was painted in 1935, which is the year Joe Louis was ranked as the No. 1 contender in the heavyweight division, and won the Associated Press' "Athlete of the Year" award. The artist was in her youth when Johnson won the Heavyweight Title which always has an impact and is influential in future events. The painting is extremely large, overall size is 46x43" which includes the elegant gold leaf frame. Entitled "Before the Fight," the painting is signed and inscribed. This is truly a beautiful piece.