First Sailing of the Griffin on Lake Erie. August 7, 1679 1847 - 1848

George Catlin made this painting of the First Sailing of the Griffin on Lake Erie, August 7, 1679. He employed oil on canvas in the nineteenth century, a time when American artists were trying to define a national art. Here, Catlin depicts a scene from the early history of European exploration in North America. Look closely, and you'll see the ship, the Griffin, surrounded by canoes and people on the shore, presumably Native Americans. The painting documents the initial encounter between native people and European settlers. The artist’s approach is of interest: Catlin romanticizes the native population. Was he naive, or was this a strategic commentary on the nature of contemporary American culture? To understand Catlin’s work fully, we must delve into the history of American art institutions and the social attitudes toward Native Americans during this period. Art historians often consult period documents, and writings by the artist, to better understand the context in which such works were created.