Native American Iconography and depictions in Art of 18th and early 19th century - Research Paper Example

While not all such depictions were blatantly racist or derogatory (though of course some were), almost all contributed in some way to the dissolution of the Native American culture that is seen today. One of the most well-known artists and writers of the late 1800s is George Catlin. Catlin traveled extensively in North America, South America, and Europe, and wrote numerous illustrated books about his experiences (Reich 111). One of these was the ponderously titled “Letters and notes on the manners, customs, and condition of the North American Indians”, in which Catlin describes at length many of the tribes of North American native that existed while he was traveling (Catlin and Shippard).

In both his words and his sketches, Catlin seems to have the utmost respect for the people about whom he is writing, at least relative to other writers of his time. For example, in Plate 11 of “Letters and notes”, Catlin sketches a man named Stu-mick-o-sucks, who was at that time the chief of the Blackfoot Nation, and in Plate 13 sketches his wife Eeh-nis-kim. Catlin makes positive comments about their ceremonial dress that they were wearing when he drew them, and states that Eeh-nis-kim had a “pleasing countenance”.

He also referred to Stu-mick-o-sucks as a “dignity”, in the same way that he might refer to a foreign king of Europe (Catlin and Shippard). In addition to his sketches of Stu-mick-o-sucks, Catlin sketched other warriors and Native American tribesmen in their full ceremonial dress. These sketches made up Plates 29-31 in “Letters and notes”. He referred to their clothing as “handsome” and in all ways indicated that he found their clothing to be interesting and even beautiful. This viewpoint differed from others of his time that found their manner of dress to be primitive and barbaric (Catlin and Shippard).

Catlin expounds at length on the methods that the Native Americans used to soften the leather that