The Post Trader
1900
Charles Marion Russell, the legendary 'Cowboy Artist,' captures the gritty essence of the frontier in this lively sketch. The central figure, a post trader, leans casually against a counter, cigarette dangling from his lips and hand resting near his holster—a pose that suggests he's seen it all and isn't easily impressed. He looks like a man who spends his days swapping goods and tall tales. Below him, a tiny vignette of a wooden fort bustling with horses anchors the scene, giving us a peek into the trading posts of 1900. Russell actually lived as a cowboy before becoming an artist, so every scratchy line here feels authentic to the wild West.
Views: 2