A Choctaw Woman 1834

"A Choctaw Woman" (1834) is a portrait painting by George Catlin, a renowned American artist known for his depictions of Native American cultures. The painting features a Choctaw woman in profile, her gaze directed upward, with her dark hair pulled back in a braid. Catlin's work is known for its romanticized depiction of Native Americans, often portraying them as noble and dignified figures. He believed that the Native American way of life was threatened by the encroachment of European settlers, and he sought to preserve it through his art. This work exemplifies the style of the 19th-century American art movement focused on documenting Native American cultures during a period of rapid change and assimilation.