Medicine Man Curing a Patient 1850

Seth Eastman created this watercolor called 'Medicine Man Curing a Patient' in 1850. As a military officer, Eastman was often stationed at forts in Native American territories. He used these experiences to document the appearance and customs of indigenous people, but how can we interpret these depictions? Eastman’s work gives us insights into the period's social and institutional context. During the 19th century, the US government's policy of assimilation sought to transform Native Americans by eradicating their cultural practices, and art was one way this ideology was enforced. Eastman’s pictures were made to document a culture that many believed would soon disappear. While seeming to preserve Native American culture, he was also participating in its destruction. To truly understand Eastman’s art, we need historical research. We can examine government documents, period newspapers, and the writings of Native Americans themselves. By understanding its historical context, we recognize that art’s meaning is always dependent on the social and institutional forces of its time.