Artwork
Mexican Infantry "On the March"
Mexican Infantry "On the March" is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Frederic Remington. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
About this work
Overview
Mexican Infantry "On the March," painted by Frederic Remington in 1896, depicts a column of Mexican soldiers traversing a dusty landscape under a vast sky.
Mexican Infantry "On the March," painted by Frederic Remington in 1896, depicts a column of Mexican soldiers traversing a dusty landscape under a vast sky. The composition features a line of infantrymen in white uniforms and broad-brimmed hats, carrying rifles on their shoulders as they march toward the left. Leading the formation is a mounted officer on a horse, establishing a diagonal rhythm that guides the viewer's eye across the canvas. In the background, a rugged mountain range anchors the scene, emphasizing the arid, frontier environment typical of Remington's interest in the American and Mexican West. Executed in oil paint, the work demonstrates Remington's characteristic attention to the movement of figures and animals, as well as his ability to render the harsh light and texture of the terrain. Created during a period when the artist was expanding his subject matter beyond the American frontier to include Mexican military life, the painting reflects his fascination with the dynamics of marching troops and the atmospheric conditions of the Southwest. It stands as a significant example of Remington's late 19th-century output, bridging his documentation of the American West with broader depictions of military life in the region.
Subject & Meaning
The scene captures a disciplined unit of Mexican infantry advancing across a barren landscape, suggesting both military order and the harsh conditions of the terrain. The inclusion of a horse‑backed leader at the front emphasizes command and the forward momentum of the troops.
Technique & Style
Remington employs strong contrasts of light and shadow, a chiaroscuro effect that gives the figures a three‑dimensional presence against the muted sky and distant mountains. The brushwork conveys the texture of dust and the weight of the uniforms, while the composition directs the eye along the line of march.
History & Provenance
Created toward the end of Remington’s career, the painting entered the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where it remains on view. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s interest in American artists who documented military subjects in the late nineteenth century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Frederic Sackrider Remington was an American painter, illustrator, sculptor, and writer who specialized in the genre of Western American Art.
