K'nisteneux Indians Attacking Two Grizzly Bears 1861 - 1869

George Catlin created this painting, titled "K'nisteneux Indians Attacking Two Grizzly Bears," at an unknown date. Catlin lived during a period of significant expansion in the United States, and his work often romanticizes Indigenous peoples and their way of life, even as that life was under threat. Here, we see a dramatic scene of Indigenous hunters on horseback confronting grizzly bears. The painting captures action and bravery, yet it also raises questions about representation and power. Whose story is being told, and how? Catlin believed he was documenting a vanishing culture, but his perspective was inevitably shaped by his own background and the cultural biases of his time. As you look at this painting, consider the complex relationship between the artist, his subjects, and the historical context in which it was created. The depiction of Indigenous peoples and their encounters with wildlife invites us to reflect on themes of identity, survival, and the impact of cultural exchange.