La Salle Crossing Lake Michigan on the Ice. December 8, 1681 1847 - 1848

George Catlin made this painting with oil on canvas, envisioning La Salle crossing Lake Michigan on the ice in 1681. The application of oil paint allowed Catlin to capture the scene's stark contrasts: the cold, icy landscape against the figures' warm-toned clothing and the wooden canoes. Catlin's process involved layering and blending paints to create a sense of depth and texture, particularly visible in the rendering of the snow and the distant shoreline. Beyond the aesthetic qualities, this painting speaks to the laborious process of exploration and the physical demands placed on those involved. The figures are depicted pulling heavy canoes across the ice, highlighting their labor and the challenges they faced in traversing the landscape. Catlin made his career painting indigenous people of the Americas, so we must ask ourselves, who is doing the labor in this image? What are the politics behind it? Ultimately, by considering the materials, making, and context, we gain a richer understanding of this artwork and the complex historical narratives it embodies.