George+Caitlin

=George Catlin and Black Hawk= Original Author: Aimee Tacey, ENG400 FL10 Revision Author:

George Catlin was an artist and author who spent his life painting and writing about Native Americans. He was born July 26th, 1796 in Pennsylvania and died December 23rd, 1872 in New Jersey. Catlin’s interest in Indians began with stories his mother told him when he was a child. But his Indian study began in 1830 when he embarked on a diplomatic mission up the Mississippi River with explorer and governor William Clark. As he traveled the river he explored and learned of Indian culture and created his art. The end result was over 500 paintings of Native Americans and scenery and many writings that he went on to publish. Catlin came through what is now the Quad Cities in 1832. (Wikipedia, George Catlin).

Catlin was drawn to Rock Island by a keen interest in the Black Hawk War. He had heard that there was going to be a treaty signing. So despite some fear for his own personal welfare, he gathered his nerve and safely made his way to Rock Island. Upon reaching the Rock Island shoreline, Catlin found the river and the land “alive and vivid with plumes, with spears, and war-clubs of the yelling red men.” (Catlin 207). He had arrived during an uncertain time, a time of great hostility between the area’s Native Americans and the whites. However, despite the chaos, Catlin appreciated the beauty of the river around the Quad Cities area. His own description states; “There is no more beautiful country in the world.” (Ambrose, Brinkley 229)

The treaty ending the Black Hawk War was signed at Fort Armstrong in 1832 where Black Hawk was held after his capture. (Wikipedia, Fort Armstrong). Black Hawk was present at the signing of this treaty, as was Catlin. Catlin gives a sad description of Black Hawk at the event.

“The poor dethroned monarch, old Black Hawk, was present, and looked an object of pity. With an old frock coat and brown hat on, and a cane in his hand, he stood the whole time outside of the group, and in dumb and dismal silence, with his sons by the side of him, and also his quondam aide-de-camp, Nah-pope, and the prophet. They were not allowed to speak, nor even to sign the Treaty.” (Catlin 217).

Black Hawk expressed his discontent with the treaty in his autobiography, which was told to Antoine LeClaire and edited by J.B. Patterson. It was the first autobiography of a Native American printed in the United States. (Wikipedia, Black Hawk).

“I found by that treaty, that all of the country east of the Mississippi, and south of Jeffreon was ceded to the United States for one thousand dollars a year. I will leave it to the people of the United States to say whether our nation was properly represented in this treaty? Or whether we received a fair compensation for the extent of country ceded by these four individuals? I could say much more respecting this treaty, but I will not at this time. It has been the origin of all our serious difficulties with the whites.” (Wikipedia, Black Hawk).

The outcome of the Black Hawk War greatly distressed the former tribal leader. Catlin substantiated that sorrow when he created a haunting portrait of the chief. However, the painting was not done during Catlin’s trip to Rock Island for the signing of the treaty. Catlin painted Black Hawk later, while he was being held as a prisoner of war at Jefferson Barracks Military Post in Lemay Missouri. Catlin tells of the sitting in his own words.

“When I painted this chief, he was dressed in a plain suit of buckskin, with strings of wampum in his ears and on his neck, and held in his hand, his medicine-bag, which was the skin of a black hawk, from which he had taken his name, and the tail of which made him a fan, which he was almost constantly using.” (Catlin 211).

The Black Hawk portrait is beautiful. Yet it shows Black Hawk at his lowest point. He was defeated and left in dishonor. His people believed it was a great honor to die in battle. But instead of giving his life for his cause, Black Hawk was shamed as a prisoner of war. (Armstrong 480). He had let down his people. He had relinquished the land of his ancestors. The graves of their loved ones were lost. Caring for the graves of the dead was a huge part of the Indian way of life. (Armstrong 288). And that part of their life was lost. Catlin captures Black Hawk’s despair. The chief’s eyes brim with melancholy.

However, Black Hawk’s pride remains unmistakable. The square of his shoulders, although slightly wilted, shows an upright, stately posture. His head is held high in a somewhat regal pose. He is adorned in wampum, which was a symbol of wealth. It was such a strong symbol, in fact, that the Native Americans were known to use it as currency itself. (WordWebOnline). And he holds in his hands a bag and a fan made from a black hawk. The fan is a Native American symbol that acknowledges a person’s ancestry, with certain feathers representing their paternal and maternal heritage. (Scott). The hawk itself had specific significance to Native Americans. A hawk meant warrior, visionary, and/or spirit messenger. Any and all of those labels would be worthy of pride.

Catlin painted many Native Americans. But his portrait of Black Hawk is a symbol of Quad Cities history. Catlin produced a beautiful representation of Black Hawk that epitomizes the essence of what kind of man he truly was: a man who cared deeply for his people, who would fight valiantly for them, and was proud because of it, no matter what. = =
 * Works Cited**

Abell, Sam et al. //The Mississippi and the Making of a Nation:// //From the Louisiana Purchase to Today//. National Geographic. 2002.

Armstrong, Perry A. //The Sauks and the Black Hawk War//. H. W. Rokker, Printer and Binder. Springfield, Il. 1887.

Catlin, George. //Letters and notes on the manners, customs, and condition of the North American Indians, Volume 2//. Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly. 1841.

Scott, Patrick. “Meaning of Prayer and Dance Fans Explained”. AAANativeArts.com. <__[]>__

Wikipedia. “Fort Armstrong”. <[|__http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Armstrong__]>

Wikipedia “George Catlin”. < __[]__>

Wikipedia. “Black Hawk (Sauk leader)”. []

WordWebOnline. “wampum”. <__[]>__

See also Native Americans

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