A cowboy's (or horse's) view of life

This bronze by Frederic Remington, "The Bronco Buster," can be seen at the L.A. County Museum of Art.
Copyright 2003 Museum Associates / LACMA

Take a close look at this sculpture of a horse and rider. Can you describe what is going on? When and where does it take place? How does it feel to be the rider? What about the horse?

The sculpture is called "The Bronco Buster," and it shows a cowboy in the midst of taming a wild horse called a bronco. It is made of bronze and was cast around 1907 by artist Frederic Remington.

Remington lived from 1861 to 1909. He was intrigued by life in America's unsettled territories. During his career he made many paintings, sculptures and drawings of the Wild West.

What do you think cowboy life was like? We imagine that cowboys led a life filled with fun and excitement. In reality, cowboys worked very hard taming horses and herding cattle. Which version of the cowboy do you think Remington meant to represent in this sculpture?

You can see this sculpture and others when you visit the American art galleries at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. For more information call (323) 857-6512 or visit www.lacma.org.

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