When Sioux and Blackfeet Meet 1903

Charles M. Russell made this watercolour depicting conflict on the plains, possibly in his studio. I can imagine him dabbing wet washes of browns, tans, purples, and creams to create a misty scene. Just look at the lead horse—what a beauty! I wonder what Russell thought about as he flicked his wrist, bringing the animal into being? I bet he knew those horses intimately, their musculature, their grace. He understood the relationship between man and beast. The rider raises his weapon, pulling back, ready to strike. But so much is unsaid. What are they fighting for? This one fluid gesture, this act of defence and aggression, speaks to broader themes of survival, territory, and identity. This loose style is so of its time, evocative of Inness and Sargent. Painters are always looking, borrowing, stealing, and riffing off one another. They keep each other honest and fresh. And like all painting, this artwork is a conversation, both embracing and questioning the past to conjure something new.