Standing Herd
1915
Edward Borein was a master at capturing the rugged spirit of the American West just as the era of the open range was fading away. In this lively 1915 sketch titled 'Standing Herd', a line of longhorn cattle stretches across the page, led by a dark, heavily shaded bull that anchors the composition. Notice how the animals in the back fade into loose, scribbly outlines? It’s a brilliant trick that creates depth, making the herd look like it's disappearing into the dusty distance. Borein spent his life sketching cowboys and cattle, preserving a vanishing world with quick, confident strokes that feel almost like a snapshot of a trail drive.