A Slick Rider 1905

Charles M. Russell wrangled this watercolor painting of a rodeo rider, probably in his studio, but I can just feel the dust and heat of the open range. Look at how Russell uses washes of diluted pigment to create the vast, hazy landscape. The colours blend so seamlessly, it feels like the scene emerges right out of the paper. I feel the drama of the moment as horse and rider go head to head. I wonder if Russell ever rode a bronco himself? The way he captures the tension in the horse's body, the rider's precarious hold... it's like he knows exactly what it feels like to be in that saddle. I'm sympathetic to any artist trying to harness movement, but in this case, it makes me think about Muybridge. He had his own way of exploring and understanding the world through an aesthetic lens.