Artwork
Salmon Spearing - Ottowas
Salmon Spearing - Ottowas 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
You see a man crouched in a canoe, spearing a salmon in clear water. The river glows green-blue under bright sky. A single tree stands tall by the bank.
George Catlin painted this in 1861. He spent years with Native tribes, documenting their daily life. This scene shows skill and respect for nature.
The river and tree might remind you of Catlin’s other work.
Overview
This oil painting, rendered on card mounted on paperboard, exemplifies his dedication to portraying Native American life.
George Catlin, an American painter and former lawyer, created Salmon Spearing – Ottowas in 1865. This oil painting, rendered on card mounted on paperboard, exemplifies his dedication to portraying Native American life. The work depicts an Ottawa man engaged in traditional salmon fishing, a subject consistent with Catlin's extensive documentation of Indigenous communities across the American frontier. It is considered part of the American folk art tradition.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures a solitary figure in a canoe, poised to spear a salmon in translucent, green-blue waters. A lone tree stands prominently on the riverbank under a bright sky, framing the scene. This depiction emphasizes the skill and resourcefulness inherent in traditional hunting practices, reflecting Catlin's aim to record the daily activities and cultural practices of the Native American tribes he encountered.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on card, which is then mounted on paperboard, Salmon Spearing – Ottowas showcases Catlin's approach to genre painting. The artwork aligns with the American folk art movement, characterized by its directness and focus on everyday life rather than academic conventions. The composition centers on the tree, providing a stable anchor for the dynamic activity of the fisherman.
Context
Catlin dedicated many years to observing and recording Native American cultures. During the 1830s, he undertook five expeditions across the American West, producing numerous portraits and written accounts of Plains Indian communities. His commitment to documenting these societies followed earlier artistic endeavors, including engravings of sites along the Erie Canal, which were featured in an early lithographic publication.
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
