Ceremony of the Fastest Horse
1900
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
1900
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
You see a group of Native American riders on horseback, racing across an open plain at dusk. Remington painted this scene after visiting the Blackfoot people in Montana. He wanted to show the moment just before the winner crosses the finish line—a quiet pause in the middle of speed. The dust kicked up by the horses glows in the fading light, almost like fog. If you like this, look up *impasto*—the thick, textured brushstrokes that make the horses feel alive.
