Indian with Spear 1905

Charles M. Russell made this watercolor, Indian with Spear, in 1905. Look at how he’s created this whole vista out of washes of color and simple marks! The horse and rider emerge from the scene, seemingly made of the same stuff as the earth around them. You could say it's an early example of camouflage! Notice the way Russell uses the white of the paper to create highlights, like on the horse's legs, it’s almost like he is sculpting with light. Then, look at the way he suggests the texture of the landscape with just a few dabs of paint. It’s a real masterclass in economy. It reminds me of John Singer Sargent, another painter who knew how to do a lot with a little. Both artists leave plenty of space for the viewer to fill in the blanks, which is something I always try to do in my own work, too. I guess you could say that art is just one big conversation across time.