The artwork titled “What an Unbranded Cow Has Cost” was created by Frederic Remington in the year 1895. It belongs to the Impressionism art movement and falls under the genre of genre painting.
In the artwork, we observe a stark and desolate scene unfolding on what appears to be a prairie or desert landscape. The central focus is a standing male figure, holding a gun and dressed in rugged attire, surveying a scene filled with fallen figures and cattle. Surrounding him, several individuals and animals lie either wounded or lifeless, depicting a violent confrontation. Riders on horseback can be seen in the distant background, suggesting the aftermath of a tumultuous encounter. The overall mood is somber and reflective, capturing the harsh realities and sacrifices of frontier life. The use of light and shadow, in conjunction with a muted color palette, enhances the atmospheric intensity and depth, characteristic of Remington’s artistic style within the Impressionist movement.
