Cmr Print Appraisal

Framed Print of 'The Buckskin Silk' by Charles Marion Russell

This item is a framed illustrative print depicting a classic Western scene by the renowned artist Charles Marion Russell (1864–1926). The artwork, commonly titled 'The Buckskin Silk', features three cowboys in an adobe-walled corral or courtyard attempting to bridle and saddle a spirited chestnut horse. The composition displays Russell's signature dynamic action and attention to ranch-life detail, including realistic depictions of period leather chaps, hats, and tack. In the background, a fourth figure sits atop a grey horse near an entrance. The color palette is dominated by warm earth tones—terracottas, ochres, and dust browns—representative of the American Southwest. The piece is presented in a rectangular format, matted with an off-white or cream-colored mat board. It is housed in a contemporary wooden frame with a medium-brown finish and a thin gold-toned interior fillet. The lower right corner of the image contains a facsimile of Russell’s characteristic signature and his iconic steer skull insignia. Based on the apparent surface texture and the modern framing style, this appears to be a mid-to-late 20th-century lithographic or offset print rather than an original watercolor or oil finish. Visible condition issues include some minor yellowing or 'toning' of the mat board consistent with age, and the frame shows light surface scuffing. The print itself appears well-preserved under glass, though slight undulation of the paper may be present.