Powder Horn c. 1939

This 'Powder Horn' was drawn by Joseph Papa, sometime before his death in 1995. The drawing depicts an engraved powder horn, a container used to carry gunpowder, a crucial tool in early American hunting and warfare. Consider the cultural context of this object; the powder horn speaks to a time of colonial expansion and conflict, intricately linked with the erasure and displacement of Native American populations. The decoration on the horn can be viewed as more than mere ornamentation. These images and inscriptions tell a story, perhaps of personal identity, military campaigns, or even territorial claims. Think about the narratives of power and possession etched into its surface. The act of decorating a functional object transforms it into a statement, a personal declaration embedded within a tool of survival and dominance. So, as you consider this drawing, think about how this object embodies complex histories, intertwining personal narratives with broader themes of conquest and cultural exchange.