Roping a Wolf 1918

Here is the text for your audio guide: Charles M. Russell captured this scene, titled ‘Roping a Wolf’, with watercolor in his signature style, immortalizing a moment from the American West. Notice the cowboy’s loop, a symbol of control and domination over nature. The act of roping has ancient roots, echoing the classical motif of man wrestling with beasts, seen in the labors of Hercules or the bull-leaping frescoes of Minoan Crete. The lasso, in its circular form, might even remind us of the Ouroboros, the serpent eating its tail, symbolizing the cyclical nature of life and death. Here, the cowboy's rope is a tool and a weapon. Think, too, of the wolf, an animal laden with symbolic weight. In some cultures, it represents cunning and survival, while in others, it embodies danger and the untamed wilderness. The emotion in this scene is palpable. The tension of the chase, the power of the horse, and the desperation of the wolves create a dynamic narrative that taps into our primal instincts. Ultimately, Russell’s scene is not just a snapshot of a moment in the West, but a vivid, enduring portrayal of the timeless struggle between man and nature, echoing across centuries.