Who painted Ball Players?

Ball Players was painted by George Catlin in 1844.

Where can I see Ball Players?

Ball Players is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Ball Players?

Ball Players is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Ball Players

George Catlin , 1844

Ball Players is an ink print by the Romanticist artist George Catlin. It dates from 1844 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Ball Players is a color lithograph created by George Catlin in 1844, capturing a moment of Native American athletes preparing to engage in a traditional ball game.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts three Native American men, dressed in vibrant, feathered attire with painted faces and distinct headpieces, poised for action with curved sticks and balls, highlighting a specific aspect of Plains Indian culture.

Technique & Style

Executed in color lithography, a medium Catlin was among the first to utilize for illustrated prints, the work features a plain background that contrasts with the detailed, colorful depiction of the athletes, emphasizing their preparatory stances.

History & Provenance

Part of Catlin's oeuvre documenting Native American life through his frontier travels in the 1830s, Ball Players follows his earlier work on Erie Canal landscapes and his contribution to Cadwallader D. Colden’s *Memoir* with lithographic illustrations.

Artist & collection

Artist

George Catlin

George Catlin ( KAT-lin; July 26, 1796 – December 23, 1872) was an American lawyer, painter, author, and traveler, who specialized in portraits of Native Americans in the American frontier.