Chief American Horse 1973

Leonard Baskin made this print of Chief American Horse, likely in the late 20th century, with lithographic ink on paper. I wonder what it was like for Baskin to be face-to-face with this person, or perhaps he was referencing a photograph. The print feels reverential, but also a little ghostly, don’t you think? There’s a lightness to the image – it’s almost like a memory. The black ink is so intense and full of dignity around the eyes, offset by the yellow which feels more like light than colour. Then there’s this kind of pale green that washes across the Chief’s body, and the feathery headdress. It makes me think about how the choice of colour can change everything. How it can bring a subject to life, or let it recede, fade away. The image feels like a conversation across time, Baskin responding to the presence of the Chief, while also reflecting the broader history of portraiture. It’s not just a likeness, it’s an interpretation, an offering. It's a reminder that painting, like any art form, is a conversation.