Indian Attack 1910

Charles M. Russell made "Indian Attack" in 1910 using watercolor and gouache. It's all about the gestures here – look at how Russell captures the chaotic energy of the scene with these loose, expressive strokes. The color palette is warm, almost fiery, but there's a softness to it too, like a memory fading. There’s a tension between representation and abstraction, and the surface is alive with the push and pull of the brush. Notice that the horses pulling the carriage are a blur of motion, while the figure on horseback is sharply in focus. It’s like Russell is saying, “Here’s the drama, but also the still point within it.” It’s wild, but controlled, like a dance on the edge of a cliff. Russell reminds me a bit of someone like Frederic Remington in his focus on the American West, but there’s something more personal and intuitive in Russell’s approach that sets him apart. It’s a reminder that art isn’t just about what you see, but how you feel.