Western Montage 1889

Charles M. Russell created this evocative ‘Western Montage’ in the early 20th Century. It presents a series of vignettes from Native American life on the Great Plains. The scenes depict the rhythms of daily life, from hunting and travel to domestic scenes within the village. Russell, working at a time of rapid social and technological change in the American West, was keen to document these traditions. The visual codes here serve to romanticize the 'noble savage' trope that dominated popular depictions of Native Americans at this time. Yet, it is also important to recognize that Russell’s art developed during a period of intense conflict between Native Americans and the expanding United States. Institutions like the US army and the Bureau of Indian Affairs played a central role in the displacement and assimilation of Indigenous peoples. Historical documents and photographs from this period offer a richer understanding of the social realities that shaped Russell’s vision of the West. These resources help us to consider what the painting includes, but also what it leaves out.