Entrance to a Lagoon, Shore of the Amazon 1854 - 1869

George Catlin made this painting, “Entrance to a Lagoon, Shore of the Amazon,” sometime in the 19th century using oil on canvas. The traditional landscape format is rendered in lush greens, achieved with layers of blended oil paint. Catlin applied the paint smoothly, working in a manner that was very much within the academic painting tradition. But this belies the image’s content: it depicts a very different world than that of Europe or the settled United States. Catlin travelled extensively in the Americas, and like many artists of his era, was interested in recording his impressions of indigenous peoples. Here, the labor is implied, not just in the artist’s handiwork, but in the labor of the figures who are shown navigating the river in their canoe. Ultimately, the painting is a potent reminder that all images are made, not found, and the work reflects Catlin’s particular experience of the Amazon. By understanding the materials and the context, we can fully appreciate this work.