Start of Roundup - Charles M. Russell

A detailed watercolour by Charles M. Russell depicting a group of cowboys preparing for a cattle roundup on the open prairie.

Charles M. Russell, often referred to as the Cowboy Artist, produced this watercolour in 1903. The work captures a group of riders preparing for a cattle roundup, a common task in the American West during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Russell spent years living among cowboys and indigenous peoples in Montana, which allowed him to observe the specific gear, horse tack, and postures of his subjects with high accuracy.

The composition features a line of riders moving across a dry, open plain. The foreground shows the riders in various states of motion, with some horses standing still while others begin to trot. Russell uses a light, airy palette to suggest the vastness of the prairie under a clear sky. The application of watercolour is controlled, allowing the texture of the paper to remain visible in the dry grasses of the foreground. His ability to render the anatomy of the horses and the weight of the riders in their saddles demonstrates his deep familiarity with the subject matter.

Unlike many of his contemporaries who focused on dramatic action, Russell often depicted the daily routines of ranch life. This piece avoids theatricality, opting instead for a documentary approach to the work of the range. The riders are dressed in practical clothing, and their equipment is rendered with attention to detail, reflecting the reality of the working cowboy. The horizon line is kept low, which emphasises the expansive nature of the terrain. This print offers a view into the historical reality of the American frontier, documented by an artist who lived the life he depicted.