Western Artists

Painters of Western Life in America

It was about 1830 when the first American artists went to the land of the setting sun to paint the Indian in his native lair.  

Some of the earlier attempts to picture the West are crude, and scarcely to be classed as art.  The name of pioneer artist Catlin is not even mentioned in two of the early leading standard works on American painting.  He was not a professional artist: he was a lawyer, and he set out to explore the West and to report on the conditions that he found there.  His pictures are mostly recognized as valuable historic records.

Catlin was followed into the West by men who knew much more about art, but the object they all sought were the same. Each one of them had stories to tell of the Redman and his life and habits, of the fights and friendships of cavalrymen, of the adventures of cowboys, and in their pictures these subjects were more to them than the purely artistic qualities displayed.  There is, of course, much to admire in their art..  There works are vigorous, direct and sure. But the historical value of their paintings appeal more to most than the art interest.

Following are Links to Short Biographies
of five of these Western Artist Pioneers

George Catlin

Early Pioneer artist to the American West. Works of great historic value on the Indian cultures.
(1796-1892)

Frederic Remington

First of the more modern group to treat the West with artistic sympathy, and his name rises instantly when any mention is made of the plains.
          (1861-1909)

Charles Schreyvogel

Painted the life of the plains, -- in Indian hunting the buffalo, attacking settlers, at war dance, and disclosed in pictorial insight the wild and stirring life that has now passed away.
           (1861-1912)

Charles M. Russell
 THE COWBOY PAINTER .
A cowboy, who knew his West, had lived with the Indians, and knew the sign language communication among savages of the Great West.
            (1864-1926)
 

Eanger Irving Couse

Early Artist of the American Southwest.

Works depicted the Indians outdoor activities, such as weaving and hunting. 
           (1866-1936)

Thomas Moran
 
Memorialized as the
"Dean of American Landscape Painters
(1837-1926)

Two places to help in research
National Endowment for the Arts, an independent federal agency supporting artists and arts organizations and bringing the arts to all Americans

Browse over 180,000 international artists, from Western-Artists to Modern and Contemporary Art. Galleries, auctions & art prices of Western Artists at Artnet