Seminolee Indians, Prisoners at Fort Moultrie 1861 - 1869

George Catlin made this painting of Seminolee Indians held as prisoners at Fort Moultrie, using oil on canvas. It’s an image that raises difficult questions about the public role of art and the politics of imagery. Catlin was known for his portraits of Native Americans, often romanticized. But here, he depicts a group of Seminole prisoners, held captive during a period of intense conflict between the US government and various Native American tribes. The painting might seem to offer a glimpse into their lives, but it also raises questions about the power dynamics at play. How does the act of painting these individuals as prisoners shape our understanding of them and their history? What role did Catlin, as an artist, play in perpetuating or challenging the social norms of his time? To truly understand this artwork, we need to delve into the history of US-Native American relations, the role of military forts like Moultrie, and the visual codes used in paintings of this era. Examining archival documents, historical accounts, and other visual representations of Native Americans can provide a richer understanding of this work.