A Cowboy’s View of Life

Take a look at this sculpture and imagine that you are the person riding the horse. Who are you and what are you doing? What do you see around you? Do you hear or smell anything? How does it feel to be on top of a bucking horse?

This sculpture is called The Bronco Buster. It is made of bronze and was cast around 1907 by artist Frederic Remington. Remington lived from 1861–1909. He was intrigued by the life and culture of the unsettled territories of the American West and made it the subject of his art. He depicted images of the "Wild West" in the many paintings, sculptures, and drawings of cowboys he made during his career. This sculpture depicts a cowboy in the midst of taming a wild horse called a bronco.

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

You can see Remington’s sculpture in the American art galleries on the plaza level of the Ahmanson Building  at LACMA.

Search Collections Online for other artworks by Frederic Remington.

Image above:
Frederic Remington, United States, 1861–1909, The Bronco Buster, modeled 1894–95; cast about 1907. bronze, 22 x 18 x 12 in. (55.88 x 45.72 x 30 cm), 43.11.2, gift of Mrs. Gladys Letts Pollock, photo © 2004 Museum Associates/LACMA.

Text prepared by the Education Department, LACMA, for the “Kids’ Reading Room” (Los Angeles Times, June 24, 2003).

Welcome to Artwork of the Month! Visit this page every month to explore a new treasure from LACMA's extensive collections.

Artwork of the Month is intended for children but can also be a fun resource for students, teachers, and families who want to learn more about artworks in LACMA's permanent collection and special exhibitions.