The Last Stand 

Charles M. Russell likely crafted this painting using oil on canvas. It captures a dramatic scene from the American West, featuring a group of cowboys attempting to manage a cattle stampede. The material of oil paint, with its rich texture and ability to capture light and shadow, enhances the chaotic energy of the moment. Notice the way Russell uses broad, sweeping brushstrokes to depict the movement of the cattle and horses. This technique not only conveys a sense of urgency, but also hints at the immense labor involved in ranching. Russell was deeply familiar with the techniques of painting but also with the realities of cowboy life. The painting reflects the social and economic context of the time, portraying the vital, yet often dangerous work that cowboys undertook to manage the vast herds of cattle that fueled the burgeoning meat industry. By focusing on the techniques and the work embodied in the painting, we can see how "high art" connects to the wider world of labor, economics, and everyday life.