Planning the Attack on the Wagon Train 1900

Charles M. Russell painted "Planning the Attack on the Wagon Train" in the United States, likely around the turn of the 20th century. This watercolor depicts a group of Native American warriors poised on a cliff, surveying a wagon train below. Russell's work reflects a fascination with the American West, but it also reveals the complex social dynamics of the period. The image taps into popular narratives of conflict between settlers and Native Americans, a theme prevalent in literature, film, and other visual media. How might this image reinforce certain stereotypes about Native Americans? To what extent does it glorify or romanticize violence? Historical documents and social histories of the American West could shed light on the perspectives and experiences of different groups during this era. By examining these resources, we can better understand the artwork's place within the larger social and institutional context of its time, including its commentary on those structures.