Fort Union 1861 - 1869

George Catlin’s “Fort Union” (1861–1869) is a captivating landscape painting depicting the vast expanse of the American West. The painting, executed in an oval format, showcases a panoramic vista of the Missouri River valley, where the prominent trading post of Fort Union once stood. Catlin's meticulous detail captures the lush vegetation, the winding river, and the scattered dwellings that dotted the landscape, providing a glimpse into the lives of the indigenous populations and the fur traders who frequented the area. His work exemplifies the Romantic era’s fascination with the untamed wilderness and its inhabitants, offering a unique perspective on the cultural encounter between Native Americans and European settlers.