Indian Trapper 

"Indian Trapper" is a lithograph by Fred Mackstauer. The absence of a date invites us to consider the work within the sweep of Mackstauer’s lifetime, during which the figure of the “Indian” underwent significant shifts in the American imagination. The trapper, armed with a rifle and dressed in a way that blends traditional and contemporary clothing, stands as a figure caught between worlds. The gaze is direct, meeting ours with a sense of weary acknowledgement. Mackstauer’s work arrives at a time of increased visibility of Native American issues. Yet, how does this representation negotiate the complexities of identity, labor, and cultural survival? The trapper's trade, historically intertwined with colonial expansion and exploitation, takes on new resonance. "Indian Trapper" invites us to reflect on the narratives we inherit and the stories we choose to tell. It compels us to consider how we engage with the legacies of representation and the ongoing struggle for self-determination.