Visualising the American West

'Attack on a Wagon Train' painted by Charles Marion Russell in 1902, shows the resistance of the Native Americans towards the new European settlers who are invading their land and distorting the land. Russell is known to be a Romanticism artist, often depicting a sense of storytelling through his visualisation of accounts that he authored.

This oil painting symbolises the communication between the Natives and the newcomers suggesting that the new community that is being established are not welcomed. The pioneers who are travelling West to enhance and experience unclaimed land are in the distance of the painting suggesting they are not the significant centerpiece to this painting. By enforcing natural elements such as lighter colours on the Native Americans within the painting, it shows the body language of the Native Americans as they begin to attack as it shows the masculinity of the men who are trying to succeed in preventing the pioneers establishing a village or town. Not only this, the painting could also suggest that the Wild West is not willing to conform or to at least adapt to the views of the settlers by cultivating the land due to the difference in physicalities such as the mountains and uneven land and that the Native Americans are protecting it from harm.

However, this painting by Bradley Schmehl shows that the American Frontier has become successful and the Native Americans have been unable to protect their communities and land from the settlers. The settlers have adapted to the vast differences of landscapes within America and have built railways, used the land for its natural resources (such as wood which can be seen in the cart of the train) and created a vast and wide communication across the land from East to West which is accessible due to the industrialisation of America during this time.

Although Schmehl is not contemporary to the time that this occurred, he provides an interesting analysis of the American West and how it is symbolised. By visualising the impact of Westernisation on the Natives, he is able to create a symbolism of resistance and force within a painting to create an alternative view on the American West.


Sources: https://uploads7.wikiart.org/images/charles-m-russell/attack-on-a-wagon-train-1902.jpg
http://www.charlesmarionrussell.org/
http://bradleyschmehl.com/index.php/gallery/
http://bradleyschmehl.com/wp-content/uploads/wppa/25.jpg