Hussar, Russian Guard Corps 

Frederic Remington made this watercolor painting of a Hussar, Russian Guard Corps. The translucent washes of watercolor allow Remington to capture the light of the scene, and the rich coloring brings the horse to life. Watercolor as a medium allows an artist to capture a certain sense of immediacy. The qualities of watercolor allowed Remington to produce vibrant yet ephemeral works, evoking the sensation of a fleeting moment. Remington was interested in the military, and this shows in his subject matter. These kinds of images were made for consumption by collectors and institutions. There is a direct connection between paintings like this and the military-industrial complex. It takes a lot of labor to equip these soldiers: from the tailoring of their colorful uniforms, to the manufacture of their weapons, to the breeding of their horses. Paying attention to the materials and processes of art helps us think about the wider social issues of labor, politics and consumption.