Pool in the Desert 1907

Frederic Remington’s painting, *Pool in the Desert,* captures a group of riders pausing for water, conjuring a world of sun-baked earth and endless horizons. You can almost feel the heat radiating off the canvas! The brushwork is loose and expressive, with strokes of blues, yellows, and browns blending together to create a shimmering effect. The thirsty horse dipping its nose into the water, and the riders with their tall hats, tell a story of a moment of respite in a challenging journey. I think Remington was probably thinking a lot about light and shadow. The way the sun bleaches out the colours, and the way the figures seem to emerge from the landscape, reminds me of Impressionist painters like Monet and Degas. You can see how artists riff off one another, each finding their own way to represent what they see and feel. For Remington, painting was a way of exploring the myths and realities of the American West, and of grappling with the complexities of its history. Just like all of us, he was finding his way, one brushstroke at a time.