Sketch for Cowboys in the Badlands 1888

Thomas Eakins created this oil on board sketch for Cowboys in the Badlands. The subdued palette and loose brushwork create an impression of a hazy, expansive landscape. The composition, dominated by horizontal lines, enhances the sense of breadth and movement. Eakins was interested in realism, and this sketch captures a moment in the daily lives of cowboys. Eakins' approach goes beyond mere depiction. By rendering forms with a muted palette, he destabilizes the romantic ideal of the Wild West, presenting it as an everyday landscape marked by labor. Consider the materiality of the paint, the visible brushstrokes, and the open composition. These formal qualities invite us to reflect on how the process of representation shapes our understanding. This sketch prompts us to reconsider the iconic imagery of the American West through its structure and form.