Sketch made on Indian Reservation c. 1890

This graphite sketch by Walter Shirlaw, dated c. 1890, captures a scene of Native American life on a reservation. The artist's loose, expressive lines convey the movement and energy of the figures, who are engaged in various activities like riding horses and gathering around a structure. A single figure stands out in the upper right, their form silhouetted against the open sky, offering a sense of solitude and contemplation. The sketch's intimate scale and the artist's attention to detail suggest it was created as a personal study, offering a glimpse into the artist's engagement with the lives of Indigenous peoples.