Before the Movies: Western Painting

One cannot think about classic movies of the 1950's without recalling the western and old time movie stars. With good guys on white horses and bad guys on black, the western reinterpreted the centuries-old theme of good versus evil with a uniquely American twist. Against a background of towering mountains, endless desert, and raging rivers, cowboys fought outlaws and Indians in an effort to establish some kind of order in the lawless Wild West. Some of the best movie memorabilia gifts and nostalgic gift ideas portray the stories of these frontier heroes.

The creators of the western were not the first to be inspired by this land. Ever since early explorers began moving westward, the American west attained mythic proportions. Captivated by the sheer vastness and wild beauty of the space, intrigued by and yet frightened of the Native Americans living there, writers and artists created stories and images that emphasized themes of possibility, opportunity, and rugged wilderness to be tamed. Today, western painting has taken on a new popularity. Contemporary artists are both sharing their visions of the land as it is today and also resurrecting the images of the Old West that captured the hearts of moviegoers.

Len Mondschein's original painting reflects the latter trend. Inspired by his own love of 1950's westerns, Mondschein's western paintings and giclee prints represent the best elements of those old movies. Bravery and justice, strength and loyalty, all are evoked in his portraits of John Wayne. So bring home the magic of the Old West with our movie memorabilia gifts.