Buffalo Chase - Bulls Protecting the Calves 1861 - 1869

Here, George Catlin captures a scene of the buffalo chase, painted with oil on canvas. The American bison, or buffalo, is the key symbol here, representing not only sustenance, but also spiritual power. Note how these massive creatures are portrayed, protecting their calves with fierce determination. We see a primal struggle, resonating with ancient protective instincts deeply embedded in our collective psyche. Consider the Minoan bull-leaping frescoes of Crete or the powerful bulls depicted in ancient Near Eastern art. In those contexts, the bull symbolizes strength and virility, often linked to divine power. Yet, here, the image is complicated. The hunters, mounted and armed, represent the incursion of civilization, a force that would eventually decimate the buffalo populations. This painting then becomes a poignant reminder of cultural shifts and the loss of ancient ways, a cyclical pattern of destruction and adaptation.