Artwork
Five Maya Indians
Five Maya Indians is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist George Catlin. It dates from 1862 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
This oil painting on card, subsequently mounted on paperboard, exemplifies his enduring interest in Indigenous cultures.
George Catlin, an American artist who transitioned from a legal career to painting, created Five Maya Indians in 1862. This oil painting on card, subsequently mounted on paperboard, exemplifies his enduring interest in Indigenous cultures. The work features five individuals depicted in traditional attire, positioned near a tree, reflecting Catlin's broader artistic mission to document Native peoples.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays five individuals identified as Maya, each clad in distinctive traditional garments. Their presence near a tree suggests a natural setting, grounding the figures within their environment. Catlin's depiction emphasizes their cultural identity through specific clothing, aligning with his consistent effort to record the unique customs and appearances of Indigenous communities he encountered throughout his career.
Context
Catlin dedicated much of his artistic career to documenting the lives of Native Americans. During the 1830s, he extensively traveled the American West, producing numerous paintings and written accounts that chronicled the Plains Indian cultures. Although created later in his career, Five Maya Indians continues this established focus, demonstrating his sustained commitment to portraying Indigenous subjects from various regions.
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.
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