A Reconnaissance

Frederic Remington

1902 · Oil on canvas · The American Wing

After 1900 Remington produced an evocative series of nocturnes that feature darkness as an essential narrative element. Rendered in a muted palette of blue, green, and brown, A Reconnaissance depicts three cavalry soldiers and their horses in a moonlit, snow-blanketed landscape. An officer and scout have ventured forth to a hillcrest to survey a distant tree line, alert to the possibility of confrontation. By turning the figures away from the viewer, Remington creates an aura of moody mystery and enhances the suspense of an uncertain outcome.

Artist

Frederic Remington

Date

1902

Medium

Oil on canvas

Culture

American

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

Gift of Louis and Gabrielle Bacon, in celebration of the Museum's 150th Anniversary, 2019