Frederic Remington’s “A Dash for the Timber,” created in 1889, is an artwork that belongs to the Impressionism movement and falls under the genre of battle painting.
The artwork vividly depicts a dramatic and dynamic scene where a group of mounted cowboys is engaged in a frenzied retreat, presumably from a pursuing force. The central focus of the scene is a line of riders galloping at full speed, their horses kicking up clouds of dust, enhancing the sense of urgency and motion. Each cowboy, adorned in distinctive Western attire, appears to be in the throes of action, some shooting behind at an unseen enemy while maintaining control of their speeding horses. The background, barren and wild, with sparse foliage, enhances the perilous and untamed atmosphere of the setting. The use of light and shadow, as well as the vivid colors, exemplifies Remington’s skill in capturing the essence of the rugged American frontier.