Four Kiowa Indians by Catlin, George
George Catlin's 'Four Kiowa Indians', painted between 1861 and 1869, captures the attire and customs of the Kiowa nation. This oil on card mounted on paperboard work, housed in a prominent museum, reflects Catlin's lifelong dedication to documenting Native American life.
Look closely at the figures: a man with a feathered headdress and shield, another with a more elaborate headdress, and a woman tenderly holding a child. These details showcase aspects of Kiowa dress and familial roles, rendered with Catlin's folk-art approach.
Catlin, an American lawyer turned self-taught artist, traveled extensively through the American West in the 1830s to create ethnographic portraits. This painting belongs to his later career, and the faint numbers '69' and 'A. 157' visible on the work are likely catalog or inventory numbers from his vast collection, indicating his meticulous effort to organize and preserve his visual records.
It’s a subtle reminder that every painting carries layers of its own unique history and journey.
Details
Transcript
This painting captures a moment in Kiowa life. The artist, George Catlin, documented Native American cultures. His goal was to preserve records of tribal attire and customs. But what are these faint numbers? And this 'A. 157' in the lower left? They are likely catalog numbers from his later collection.