The Roundup 1918

"The Roundup" (1918) by Charles M. Russell depicts a scene of cowboys herding cattle across a vast, open landscape. Russell, known for his depictions of the American West, captures the essence of the cowboy lifestyle through a detailed yet simplified style. The use of muted tones and washes creates a sense of atmosphere and distance, highlighting the vastness of the Western plains. The composition emphasizes the scale of the cattle drive, with the cowboys dwarfed by the herd. The scene is reminiscent of the era of cattle ranching and the romanticized image of the cowboy, a defining theme in Russell's work.