Coming Through the Rye 1902 - 1938

Frederic Remington created this bronze sculpture, Coming Through the Rye, sometime in the late 19th century. The patina on this bronze is so dark and polished, it almost looks like wet clay, slick and dripping. Look at the way Remington has captured the motion of the horses; they're not just standing there, they're charging, legs churning, bodies leaning forward. The texture is rough, almost like he attacked the clay with his bare hands, leaving fingerprints and gouges all over. The overall effect is one of raw energy. In a way, it reminds me of some of Degas' sculptures of horses, but with a distinctly American flavor. Remington’s cowboys have none of the delicacy or refinement we see in Degas’ ballerinas and horses. This is raw, untamed masculinity rendered in bronze. Art is always in conversation, across time and place, but never repeats itself.