Morris Kantor: Baseball at Night

Is there a more American sport than baseball?  Morris Kantor, born in Russia, embraced the subject as the essence of idealized American life. Although the specific city and field are unknown, Baseball at Night is a familiar scene. Enthusiastic spectators fill the bleachers, and the American flag hangs languidly in the calm night air. In the very anonymity of the scene Kantor captures a slice of American life: everyone's game is played by everyone's hometown team. The work's animated optimism and affirmation of enduring values acquire even greater significance since it was painted during the Depression.

The original painting of Baseball at Night, 1934 by Morris Kantor (American, b. Russia, 1896-1974) is in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, which is dedicated exclusively to the art and artists of the United States. The museum's collections trace the country's story in art spanning three centuries, and its in-depth resources offer opportunities to understand that story better.