Grizzly Bears Attacking Buffalo 1861 - 1869

George Catlin made this painting, "Grizzly Bears Attacking Buffalo," using oil paint on canvas in the 19th century. The smooth surface suggests a careful application, building up thin layers to achieve a sense of depth and realism. The texture of the paint itself is relatively subdued, allowing the dramatic scene to take center stage. Look closely, and you will notice how Catlin used the oil paint to create texture and detail in the fur of the animals, and subtle tonal variations to evoke the landscape. What’s interesting here is the complex relationship between the artist, the materials, and the subject matter. Catlin, a white American artist, is documenting a scene of wild nature, but doing so through the very civilized medium of oil paint, which became widely available through industrial manufacture and global commerce. The painting is not just a representation, but also an artifact of a specific time and place, reflecting changing attitudes towards nature, labor, and the frontier. It reminds us to think about who gets to tell these stories, and with what tools.