Who painted Discovery Dance - Saukie?

Discovery Dance - Saukie was painted by George Catlin in 1861.

Where can I see Discovery Dance - Saukie?

Discovery Dance - Saukie is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Discovery Dance - Saukie?

Discovery Dance - Saukie is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Discovery Dance - Saukie?

Museum-quality prints of Discovery Dance - Saukie are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Discovery Dance - Saukie

George Catlin , 1861

Discovery Dance - Saukie is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist George Catlin. It dates from 1861 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower center: Geo. Catlin. 1861

About this work

Overview

Discovery Dance - Saukie is an 1861 oil-on-card painting mounted on paperboard, created by George Catlin, an American artist known for documenting Native American life.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a group of Native Americans in traditional attire, gathered in a grassy area, with some holding spears and wearing feathered headdresses, capturing a dynamic moment of a ceremonial or ritual dance, reflecting Catlin's interest in recording Indigenous cultural practices.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on card, the work features earthy tones and detailed rendering, with figures arranged in dynamic poses, characteristic of Catlin's observational and illustrative approach.

History & Provenance

Created during Catlin's later period, following multiple trips to the American West in the 1830s, where he produced seminal records of Plains Indian life; his earlier work included New York State landscapes published in an early lithographed book.

Context

Part of a broader body of work by Catlin aimed at documenting Native American life on the frontier, contributing to a visual archive of Indigenous cultural practices during a period of significant change.

Legacy

Contributes to Catlin's legacy as a key documentarian of 19th-century Native American life, with his works remaining important historical and cultural records.

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Artist & collection

Artist

George Catlin

George Catlin ( KAT-lin; July 26, 1796 – December 23, 1872) was an American lawyer, painter, author, and traveler, who specialized in portraits of Native Americans in the American frontier.