Iconic Scene of Two Indians on Horseback Watching a Bison

Between the Gaze and the Grazing: A Bison’s Tale in the Native Landscape

The viewer’s eye immediately lands on the grazing bison who is either unaware of the presence of the two intruders or is secure enough not to be bothered by them. Cole has provided us with an unfinished story in that we wonder if the Indians on horseback, one with a spear and the other a rifle, are going to kill the bison or leave him alone. Our intuition is that he will not be left alone, but we then remember that Native hunters never killed for sport, only for food when needed. Perhaps they have enough bison meat and skins for now.

Cole has used color contrast beautifully. The dark bison in the foreground is backed by pastel and mellow tones used in the hills and buttes as well as the Indians and horses. The sky is a warm yellow rather than a bright blue.

The painting is signed in lower left J. Red Cole, and is not dated. It is beautifully framed in a massive handmade brown wood frame with gold trim by La Plante Gallery of Albuquerque.   We have searched art resources and been unable to find any information on this artist. I have assumed he is a contemporary artist but cannot verify this. He obviously is a fine talented artist working in oil medium.

Condition: this original painting is in very good condition

Provenance: this Iconic Scene of Two Indians on Horseback Watching a Bison is from the collection of a gentleman from Santa Fe

TAGS: Western Art; J. Red Cole, Western Painter