Tul-lock-chísh-ko, Drinks the Juice of the Stone, in Ball-player's Dress (Choctaw) 1834

George Catlin painted "Tul-lock-chísh-ko, Drinks the Juice of the Stone, in Ball-player's Dress (Choctaw)" during a period when the United States was expanding westward, leading to increased encounters and conflicts with Native American tribes. Catlin sought to document the appearance and customs of various tribes, but his work is also marked by the power dynamics inherent in such representations. This portrait of Tul-lock-chísh-ko, a Choctaw ball-player, captures him in traditional attire, holding ball sticks, with a striking white ornament adorning his waist. Catlin’s romanticized depiction stands in contrast to the forced removal and cultural disruption experienced by the Choctaw people during this era. While Catlin aimed to preserve a record of Native American life, his paintings also reflect the colonial gaze of the time. This image serves as a reminder of the complexities and contradictions embedded in the representation of indigenous cultures by outsiders.