The Old Dragoons of 1850 1905 - 1907

Frederic Remington made "The Old Dragoons of 1850" in bronze, sometime before 1909, and the way he's worked the surface makes it feel like a fleeting moment, caught in time. What's interesting to me is how Remington uses texture to create a sense of movement. See how the horses’ manes and tails are rough and uneven? The way he’s handled the bronze gives everything a kind of dynamism. It’s like the whole sculpture is breathing, charging forward. Then, notice how the faces and hands of the riders are much smoother. This contrast brings a focus to the human element amidst the chaos. Take a look at the horse in the very front. The way its legs are extended, and the tension in its body. That one gesture really captures the energy of the whole piece. It feels like Remington wasn't just depicting a scene, but trying to convey the feeling of being in the midst of it all. I am reminded of Degas and his bronzes of horses. They both looked for ways to record movement and dynamism.