The Bolter, #2 1903

Charles M. Russell captured this frenzied moment with watercolor. A bolting bull, lassoed, becomes the epicenter of raw energy as cowboys on horseback struggle to contain it. Consider the lasso itself – not merely a tool, but a potent symbol. Think back to antiquity, to images of the Cretan bull-leaping rituals, where the capture of the bull symbolized mastery over primal forces. Here, the cowboy's rope echoes that ancient struggle, a dance of man against beast. The dust swirling around their feet speaks to the chaos and power of nature, and it is reminiscent of the Baroque paintings depicting similar movement. What is the difference? The symbolism of the American West reveals a psychological narrative of control, and untamed freedom. This narrative has resurfaced and evolved, becoming a powerful emblem of the American spirit.