Pes-Ke-Le-Cha-Co 1832 - 1833

Henry Inman painted Pes-Ke-Le-Cha-Co, or The Platte River Pawnee, in oil on canvas sometime in the first half of the 19th century. This was a period when the United States government implemented policies of Native American removal, so Inman’s painting exists within the cultural context of increased conflict with and displacement of Indigenous peoples. Inman attempts to capture the likeness of Pes-Ke-Le-Cha-Co, but it is critical to consider how the artist's own cultural background and assumptions shape this representation. The sitter is adorned with markers of his identity, like his distinct hairstyle, jewelry, and the blanket draped over his shoulder bearing a painted horse. Yet, consider the power dynamics inherent in portraiture during this time; the act of painting, the choices of what to depict and how, all contribute to the construction of an image that may or may not reflect Pes-Ke-Le-Cha-Co's own sense of self. This painting is as much a product of Inman's perception as it is a depiction of an individual. The artist's choices offer a glimpse into the complex negotiations of identity, representation, and cultural exchange that characterized this period.