“Sketch for Cowboys in the Badlands,” created by Thomas Eakins in 1888, belongs to the Realism art movement and represents a sketch and study genre. The artwork depicts a cowboy in a broad-brimmed hat and trousers, engaged in the act of tending to his horse. The surrounding landscape is minimally detailed, focusing the viewer’s attention on the figures central to the composition. The hues in the artwork are earthy and subdued, consistent with the realistic portrayal of the scene. This piece conveys a moment of interaction between the cowboy and his horse, emphasizing the bond between human and animal within the context of the rugged Badlands terrain.
