Last Chance or Bust 1900

Charles M. Russell painted "Last Chance or Bust" in the United States at the start of the twentieth century, using watercolor and gouache. The painting depicts a Native American family crossing a body of water, possibly in search of new hunting grounds. Russell was known for his romanticized depictions of the American West, a vision often at odds with the realities of Native American life during this period of westward expansion and governmental policies of forced assimilation. The title itself suggests a sense of desperation and the limited options available to Native communities. The painting invites questions about whose perspectives were being represented and whose were being marginalized, and what role institutions like museums played in shaping the narrative of the American West. By consulting historical documents, census records, and the voices of Native American communities, we can explore the complexities and contradictions of this artwork and its historical context.