Ridden Down 1906

Frederic Remington made this painting of an indigenous American man and his horse with oils on canvas. Look at the way Remington uses thin washes of color to create a sense of depth and distance. The paint is applied in such a way that it's almost transparent in areas, allowing the canvas to breathe through. It's interesting how the physicality of the paint isn’t concealed, and you can almost see the marks of the brush as if Remington wanted you to feel the process. Focus on how the light catches the horse's coat. There's a real sense of movement and energy in that glossy, chestnut brown. Winslow Homer comes to mind, in his use of light and shadow to create drama. Like Homer, Remington uses ambiguity and atmosphere to evoke the spirit of the American landscape.