Sortin'

Tom Browning
Oil, 20" x 30"
$14,500

NARRATIVE: American cowboy traditions date back to the earliest European colonizers of the Americas. Cattle-handling practices evolved from multiple cultures and adapted over time, though many classic customs are preserved. Separating cattle for the purposes of branding, doctoring or transporting is regular ranch work.

Unless you’ve been there it’s hard to appreciate this sorting process. The bellowing of the mother cows and the bawling of the calves create a symphony of anxiety and confusion. The calves are separated and branded before being reunited with their mamas. The sounds and smells are truly unique and create an experience you won’t forget. "Controlled chaos" is a good way to describe it.