View of Chicago in 1837 1861 - 1869

George Catlin's "View of Chicago in 1837" is a watercolor painting completed between 1861 and 1869, offering a glimpse of Chicago's early history. The painting depicts the city's modest beginnings with a few wooden buildings situated on the Chicago River's banks. The image focuses on the meeting of the Indigenous peoples with the nascent city, highlighting a significant moment in American westward expansion and cultural exchange. The presence of Native American figures in traditional clothing and dancing in the foreground underscores the cultural collision that characterized early Chicago.