Custer's War by Tȟatȟáŋka Waŋžíla (Henry Oscar One Bull)

Custer's War c. 1900

thathangkawangzilahenryoscaronebull

minneapolisinstituteofart

colored-pencil

pen drawing

personal sketchbook

pen-ink sketch

thin linework

united-states

pen work

sketchbook drawing

storyboard and sketchbook work

sketchbook art

coloring book page

doodle art

colored-pencil

"Custer's War" is a detailed ledger drawing by the Lakota artist Tȟatȟáŋka Waŋžíla (Henry Oscar One Bull). The artwork, created around 1900, is a powerful visual record of the Battle of Little Bighorn, also known as Custer's Last Stand. One Bull's depiction of the battle emphasizes the overwhelming numbers of Lakota warriors and their victory over General George Armstrong Custer's U.S. Cavalry. The composition, filled with hundreds of figures on horseback, showcases the Lakota perspective of this pivotal event in American history. The Minneapolis Institute of Art houses this important work, a testament to Native American art and its significance in understanding historical narratives.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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In the Battle of the Little Big Horn, Cheyenne, Lakota, and Arapaho warriors won a stunning victory over the United States Army. Euro-American and Native American military historians still discuss the battle, but accounts through Indian eyes are relatively rare. One Bull fought in the 1876 battle and later painted this comprehensive view of events. Across the top and to the right, he portrayed various episodes from the confrontation, carefully annotating some in pencil. At the left center, he drew radiating circles to represent the tipi encampments of the principal Lakota and Cheyenne groups, while the heads at lower left depict the warriors' families camped near the battle. In the center of the piece, One Bull illustrates himself holding Sitting Bull's shield, which is light green, while mounted on a horse. He rushes to the battle scene and rescues a friend who has been wounded. One Bull uses pictographic methods to portray this scene. He carefully rendered each horse and provided details on important items such as Sitting Bull's shield.