Spur c. 1940

Gerald Transpota made this watercolor painting of a spur, sometime between 1855 and 1995. The subject matter can tell us a lot about American culture during that time period. The image shows us a spur, a tool designed to be worn on the heels of horse riders and used to encourage the horse to move forward or faster. In the United States, the spur is strongly associated with the American West, cattle ranching, and the figure of the cowboy. Popularized through dime novels, rodeos, and Wild West shows, the cowboy was one of the most iconic figures in American popular culture. But like most images, the figure of the cowboy became less and less connected to the hard-working men on horseback and more and more connected with American social, economic and political power. By studying the image, we can better understand the historical and cultural significance of the American West and how it shaped American identity.