Artwork
Catlin and Indian Attacking Buffalo
Catlin and Indian Attacking Buffalo is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist George Catlin. It dates from 1865 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1865, this oil painting on card mounted to paperboard depicts a dynamic encounter between a European‑American figure and a Native American as they confront a buffalo herd. The composition captures a moment of intense movement, emphasizing the physical struggle inherent in the scene.
Subject & Meaning
The work illustrates a confrontation that reflects the broader tensions of frontier life, juxtaposing a white observer—often identified as the artist himself—with an Indigenous hunter engaged in the traditional pursuit of buffalo. It serves as a visual record of Plains Indian hunting practices and the encroaching presence of settlers.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the piece employs strong contrasts of light and shadow to model forms and convey depth, a method akin to chiaroscuro. The brushwork is brisk, lending a folk‑art sensibility that prioritizes narrative clarity over refined finish, characteristic of the artist’s documentary approach.
History & Provenance
The painter, originally trained as a lawyer, traveled across the American West during the 1830s, gathering material for a series of images documenting Native cultures. This canvas forms part of that extensive visual archive, later incorporated into his published collections that combined sketches, paintings, and written observations.
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
Bulls Fighting
Expedition Encamped on a Texas Prairie. April 1686
An Alligator's Nest
Mrs. George Catlin (Clara Bartlet Gregory)
Chief of the Taensa Indians Receiving La Salle. March 20, 1682
A Small Village - Payaguas Indians
Omaha Chief, His Wife, and a Warrior
Father Hennepin Leaving the Mississippi to Join La Salle. May 8, 1680
