Members of the Botocudo Tribe 1854 - 1869

George Catlin created this painting, "Members of the Botocudo Tribe," using oil on paperboard, presenting us with a tableau framed by a deliberate oval composition. The figures are arranged with careful consideration, creating a structured portrayal of the Botocudo people. Catlin’s emphasis on symmetry and balance flattens the subjects, reducing them to formal components within the broader arrangement. The smooth application of paint flattens the image and standardizes the individuals depicted. The formal choices prompt questions about Catlin's methods of representation, and how the formal choices may serve the conventions of ethnographic documentation rather than capturing the individuality or lived experience of the Botocudo. Ultimately, the painting challenges us to consider how the formal qualities of a work can simultaneously reveal and conceal, and the way the artist’s choices can reflect cultural attitudes and assumptions.