Jerked Down 1907

Charles M. Russell made *Jerked Down* with oil paint and, wow, the scene just bursts into life! Look at the way the cowboys and cattle are caught in motion, swirling across the landscape, roped together. I can almost feel the sun beating down and hear the thunder of hooves. Russell must have known this world intimately, the feel of the reins, the grit in the air. He's not just showing us a scene, but a whole way of life, precarious and exciting. The brushstrokes are thick and loaded with pigment, especially in the foreground, giving the impression of rugged, untamed land. But then, in the distance, the paint thins out, creating this atmospheric haze, like the air itself is shimmering. Painters like Russell are in conversation with so many others across time. They teach each other new ways of seeing. It is an invitation to slow down, to observe closely, and to find our own meanings within its depths.