The Stage Driver
1900
Charles Marion Russell, the legendary 'Cowboy Artist,' captures the gritty reality of the frontier in this 1900 sketch labeled 'The Stage Driver.' The central figure stands imposing and bundled in a heavy fur coat, gripping a long whip and reins, looking ready to brave a Montana blizzard. In the bottom right, a tiny, energetic sketch of a stagecoach team reveals the context of his job, showing the horses in full gallop. This drawing celebrates the rugged individuals of the Old West, serving as a precursor to the Regionalism movement's focus on authentic American life.
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