The Scouting Party 1898

Charles M. Russell, who spent much of his life in Montana, painted "The Scouting Party." This work offers a window into the romanticized vision of the American West popular at the turn of the century. Russell's art often depicted the lives of cowboys, Native Americans, and the landscapes that defined the era. However, it is crucial to recognize that these depictions often glossed over the grim realities of westward expansion, including the displacement and marginalization of Native populations. The painting invites viewers to consider the complex relationship between settlers and Indigenous peoples, and also to think about the ways in which history is represented and remembered through art. What unspoken stories lie behind this representation? How does it feel to know there is a history untold?