Before The Game
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About Reproduction
Bring the timeless beauty of Charles William Bartlett's Before The Game into your home with a handmade oil painting reproduction. Carefully recreated on canvas by skilled artists using traditional techniques, this piece captures the delicate brushwork, subtle light, and vibrant color of the original masterpiece. With museum-level quality and rich texture, it brings elegance and artistic depth to any space. Enjoy free shipping and make this masterpiece a part of your personal collection.
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Original Description
Charles William Bartlett’s Before The Game transports viewers to early 20th-century Japan, capturing a serene yet dynamic moment ahead of a traditional wrestling match. The composition balances stillness and anticipation: two sumo wrestlers stand poised, their muscular forms rendered with flowing lines, while spectators lounge casually in the background. Bartlett’s woodblock print style—refined during his collaboration with Japanese artisans—blends Western realism with ukiyo-e’s flattened perspectives and delicate color gradations. Soft earthy tones dominate, punctuated by muted blues and reds, evoking harmony between human figures and their surroundings. As part of Bartlett’s celebrated Japan series (1916–1919), the work exemplifies shin-hanga (“new prints”), a revival movement that reimagined traditional techniques for modern audiences. Today, it remains cherished for its cross-cultural elegance and quiet narrative tension, bridging Edo-era craftsmanship and early modernist sensibilities.
For interiors, Before The Game lends understated sophistication. Ideal for a study or minimalist living room, its neutral palette complements wooden furniture, linen textiles, or tatami-inspired decor. Frame it in a slim black or natural bamboo border to honor its Japanese roots, and hang it at eye level to draw focus to its intricate details. Pair with muted greens or indigo accents—a velvet armchair or ceramic vase—to echo the print’s subdued hues. Given its typical woodblock size (approx. 10x15 inches), group it with smaller Asian-inspired artworks or a single large sumi-e piece for balanced asymmetry. In offices, it fosters calm concentration; position near a reading nook or against a warm gray wall to soften modern workspaces. The scene’s cultural depth makes it a subtle yet meaningful statement wherever storytelling and tranquility intersect.
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Lead Time & Shipping
When you order this oil painting replica, it typically takes 2-3 weeks to paint. If the artwork is more complex, it might need a little more time to ensure the best quality. Once it's ready, we'll send you a photo for your approval. After you give the green light, we'll ship it to you for free.
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Return & Refund
We believe in the quality of our hand-painted oil painting reproductions, and your satisfaction is our priority. If for any reason, you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, we offer a 45-day return policy. You can return your artwork within 45 days of receipt and receive a full refund. Please note that the artwork must be returned in the original packaging and in the same condition as it was received.
