Old Menomonie Chief with Two Young Beaux 1861 - 1869

George Catlin created this painting of a Menomonie Chief with Two Young Beaux using oil on canvas. Catlin was a trained lawyer, but his interest in documenting the appearance and customs of Native Americans, led him to travel and paint portraits of prominent tribal members. His paintings are characterized by the skilled rendering of his subject’s features, while his process involved rapid brushwork, a technique he developed to capture his subjects quickly. The composition and materials of this piece are simple, yet they tell a complex story of cultural exchange and documentation. The three figures are displayed in an open landscape setting, while the soft application of the oil paints and the limited color palette creates a serene yet melancholic scene. The subjects are partially undressed and equipped with pipes, flutes, and axes: traditional craft objects that would have been made by hand from organic materials. Catlin's paintings, while intended to preserve the likenesses of Native Americans, also reflect the colonial gaze, and the romanticization of indigenous cultures that were under threat. This work, along with the others from Catlin, invite us to consider the artist’s role as a recorder and interpreter of cultural practices during a period of immense social change.