Charles Marion Russell - Notable Works

Notable Works

Russell's works comprised a wide variety of topics, including major historical events and everyday life in the west. His work was noted for the frequency with which he portrayed well-known events from the point of view of Native American people instead of the white viewpoint. He was noted for a keen eye to the social undercurrents of society and the meticulous authenticity with which he portrayed the clothing and equipment of both cowboys and Native people.

His portrayals of women has drawn critiques and assessment from historians studying women in the west. The contrasting levels of sensuality in his depictions of white and native women is noted in his artistic transference of sexuality from white to Native women, so as to conform to the moral standards and perceptions of women in his time. Most of Russell's portrayals of white women are shown as "pure" and non-sexual, other than those paintings specifically depicting prostitutes. In contrast, his series of five "Keeoma" paintings and related images show a sensual native woman, with accompanying legends that Keeoma was a real person that Russell had loved. However, photographs show that the body model for these images was actually Russell's wife, Nancy, who in doing so, critics note, was able to express her sexuality in a way generally not allowed "decent" white women of the time.