Ghost Dance (The Vision of Life) 

Ralph Blakelock created this oil on canvas painting, Ghost Dance, in the United States. The title evokes the Ghost Dance movement, a spiritual practice adopted by Native American tribes in the late 19th century. It promised renewal and resistance against the encroaching white settlers, a time of great cultural disruption. The painting’s dark palette and obscured figures could be a commentary on the threatened culture of Native Americans. Blakelock often depicted Native American life, though his paintings are more romantic and symbolic than documentary. The institutional history surrounding this work also reflects the era's complexities. Blakelock struggled financially and spent time in mental institutions. His art gained recognition only later in life. To fully understand this painting, we must delve into the history of Native American resistance, the romanticization of the "vanishing race" in American art, and the artist's biography. The meaning of art is always a product of its time.