Artwork
Making Flint Arrowheads - Apachees
Making Flint Arrowheads - Apachees is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist George Catlin. It dates from 1862 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
George Catlin shows native Apache men outdoors making sharp stone arrowheads. Sunlight picks up the red dirt and their dark clothing. One man kneels over a rock, tapping it with a stone tool.
This was painted in 1855, but Catlin used notes from his 1830s travels. He liked to show native groups at work, not just in battle scenes.
Try looking up Catlin, George next.
Overview
This 1855 oil on card painting, mounted on paperboard, is a work by George Catlin depicting Apache people crafting flint arrowheads.
Subject & Meaning
The scene shows Apache men outdoors, engaged in the process of making sharp stone arrowheads, highlighting their traditional craftsmanship and daily life.
Technique & Style
Catlin's use of oil on card captures the play of sunlight on the red dirt and the men's dark clothing, creating a vivid representation of the scene.
History & Provenance
Although painted in 1855, the work is informed by Catlin's notes from his travels to the American West in the 1830s, reflecting his extensive documentation of Native American cultures.
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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