by C. A. Rymer

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2021

18 x 24 in. oil on oil paper

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A mysterious loner carrying a harmonica and it's haunting melody searching for his showdown with fate.

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Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in the West is one of my favorite films. In the opening scene we're introduced to Harmonica played by Charles Bronson. The first 10 minutes of the film alone are some of the best examples of visual storytelling that I can think of to date.

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Leone was not only a master at capturing the vastness and beauty of the Wild West (which was often shot in Italy), but he wasn't afraid to punch in tight to capture the landscape of his character's face. The eyes have there own language, that can't be easily put into words.

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