A Puelchee Chief and Two Young Warriors 1854 - 1869

George Catlin created this painting of a Puelchee Chief and Two Young Warriors using oil on canvas. Catlin was careful to record the material details of indigenous life: the ochre and earth pigments used to decorate the body, the feathers adorning the hair, and the crafted weaponry of bows, arrows, and shields. Take a closer look, and you’ll notice the attention given to the warriors' clothing, woven from natural fibers. These items are not merely depicted, but are rendered with a palpable sense of their materiality. Consider the labor involved in procuring these materials, transforming them through skilled handwork, and embellishing them with decorative touches. Catlin's meticulous painting gives us insight into the cultural significance of these objects, and the high value placed on them. By drawing our attention to the materials and making processes, Catlin invites us to appreciate the resourcefulness, artistry, and cultural pride embodied in these objects. This reminds us that the division between art and craft is a recent invention and that these objects of daily life carry great cultural significance.