Artwork
Three Woyaway Indians
Three Woyaway 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
Created in 1862, *Three Woyaway Indians* is an oil painting executed on card that has been mounted on a paperboard support. The work depicts three Native American men standing outdoors beneath a lightly clouded sky, each dressed in traditional regalia that includes feathered headdresses, woven garments, and ornamental bracelets.
Subject & Meaning
The three figures are presented with distinct attributes: one holds a bow and a quiver of arrows, another rests a spear against his body, and the third crouches slightly while grasping a knife. Their poses and accoutrements suggest a focus on martial readiness and cultural identity within a Plains tribal context.
Technique & Style
Catlin employs a smooth, warm handling of oil, emphasizing the texture of feathers, beadwork, and the subtle gradations of skin tone. The background is rendered in muted earth colors, allowing the figures to emerge with clarity while maintaining a cohesive, grounded atmosphere.
History & Provenance
The painting belongs to George Catlin’s extensive series of portraits produced during his five expeditions to the western frontier in the 1830s and 1840s. Though created later, it reflects his ongoing commitment to documenting Indigenous peoples amid the rapid expansion of Euro‑American settlement.
Context
Catlin, originally trained as a lawyer, turned to art as a means of preserving the customs of Plains tribes he encountered. His work was intended as a visual record at a time when many Native communities faced displacement and cultural disruption.
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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