Charles Russell Boxed Notecards

The idea of the American West—rugged cowboys, unpredictable Indians, vast, harsh, and untamed lands—fascinated the inhabitants of the eastern part of the country long after the last covered wagon crossed the prairie. One of the finest chroniclers of that mythicized land, Charles M. Russell (1864–1926) was still young during the West’s heyday and produced much of his art long after the last great buffalo herds were gone and the Wild West had disappeared into history and legend. Born in St. Louis, he developed an early interest in the West, and while still in his teens journeyed to Montana, where he worked as a ranch hand. A few years later, a small watercolor he painted sparked interest in his art and his rise to fame began. He lived and worked in Montana for the rest of his life, creating over 2,000 paintings that provide an unparalleled journey into the Old West.

Published with the Amon Carter Museum.