How the Horses Died for Their Country at Santiago
1899
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
1899
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
You see two dead horses lying in a muddy field, their legs stiff, while soldiers stand nearby in the rain. Remington made this after covering the Spanish-American War. He wanted people back home to see the cost—not just the glory. The horses aren’t dramatic; they’re just there, heavy and still. The mud and rain make it feel real, not heroic. If you like how he shows quiet moments in war, look up the technique called *impasto*.
