Wakechai (Crouching Eagle), Saukie Chief
1824
unspecified
From the collection of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
1824
unspecified
From the collection of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
This portrait depicts a Native American man, Wakechai (Crouching Eagle), a Saukie Chief. He wears a dark headband with two feathers protruding from it, and his attire includes a white cloth draped over his left shoulder and a silver cuff on his right arm. A necklace adorns his neck. The subject's expression is serious, and his gaze is directed straight ahead. The background of the painting is a solid, muted color, which helps to focus attention on the chief. The artist's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth and dimensionality in the portrait. To learn more about this technique, look up chiaroscuro.
