Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-05-13
The Pictures that Catln Painted in
the Early Thirties When He Visited
the Indian Tribes of the Northwest


and the painting was accomplished.
When their fears were quieted. they
all desired TO be painted. and those who
were chosen. earned the envy of their
fellows. who felt themselves sighted.
1t was either Bodmer or Catlin who
had a singular experience. One day 9
beautifully dressed young man entered
his improvised studio and asked to have
his picture painted; but to this the
other Indians who were there offered an
effective protest. They said he was no
warrior, but an idler-what in present
day slang would be denominated q
lounge lizard" II he were painted. no
self respecting indian would afterwards
serve as a model for the artist. The
young man made no attempt to defend
himself-he knew it vas useless-but in
the best of humor, took himself and his
nnery elsewhere.
On one occasion Catlin made the mis-
take of painting a profile view OF a chief.
His people were indignant when they
saw it. Our chief" said they. never
looks sidewise at one like that. He looks
you, or any one, full in the face" They
believed Catlin had changed the nature
of their chief. Ordinarily he was afraid
TO look q man squarely in the face; but
Catlin represented him as one who had
something to conceal. 1t was the look of
a liar and q coward. In some such man
ner they reasoned.
The Indians thought the pictures were
living beings. They must be" said they.
for everywhere we so the eyes follow us.
Now how could they do that If they were
not alive!" Our own children have had
the same thought.
These are a few Of the difficulties en-
countered by Catlin in his endeavor to
preserve for future generations represent
tations OF early Indian types; yet so
faithfully has he done this that we go
to him in order TO learn how the diff
ferent tribes he visited looked and lived
for he painted their villages as we'll as
individuals. BY examination of his plates,
we can see all this as he saw it with the
eye of al artist which did not fail to
note the smallest detail.
He had painted the chiefs and some
of inferior rank, when he undertook the
portraiture of women and children. This
was going a step too far. No warrior
could permit this. At first they laughed
at his efforts in this direction. He could
not seriously pervert his art to this ex-
tent, they argued. But when they saw
that he was in earnest. and really
thought pictures Of women and children
were worth while, their masculine pride
rebelled. They issued this ultimatum:
IF you continue to paint women and
children, hen you must destroy our pic
lures. we VIII uOt DE dSbOCldt6Q WIFI
such low down creatures. Is 1t seemly
for warriors to be placed on a level with
womankind? Not on your lifel Make
your choice--we have spokenl"
How Catlin managed to preserve the
pictures Of the women n children he
already had, n painted others follow
ing this male protest, remains a mystery.
1t is never safe to go counter to the
teachings or warnings of the medicine
man nf nnU Dua nr rara urhatpupr ~ QU hp
their title. This Catlin was soo to learn.
He was accused of having caused the
death of a prominent chief named Little
Bear, by means of his magic brush, that
took away half Of a man, and left only
half or the canvas, for so they inter-
preted a profile.
/ Catlin had killed their chief, either by
dividing him in half. or In some equally
obnoxious way, and merited death. The
medicine men told them SO, end said 1t
was the result of the failure OF the Indt-
ans to heed the repeated cautions of
these wise men. They had tried to make
their followers understand that the
painting of this white man was bad med
ici lie, and now the Indians could see for
themselves what had happened, due to
their lack of faith.
Not understanding the tribal language,
Catlin had no idea that he was held re-
sponsible for the chiefs death, and would
have remained ignorant of the charges
against him until it was too late. For
tunately, the white men at the post
where he was staying knew that his life
was in danger, and that his only hope OF
safety lay in flight. He was urged TO go,
and he followed this advice.
The whole trouble, as I have said, or
iginated from Catlin's having painted
Little Bear, al Unc-pa-pa chief, in pro-
file. "He is only half a man-Little
Bear is only half a man." jeered an
enemy. 1.-THE white man did not think
his other half good enough to paint"
Leaving the tepee where was Little
Bears portrait, his enemy called to him
in a voice loud enough for all to hear
IF you are a whole man. Little Bear,
come out and show yourself"
Little Bear rushed out of the tepee
and was met by a shot from his enemy,
that tore away the side of his face. Little
Bear had tried to fire, but was unable tc
do SO, as his wife, fearing trouble, had
removed the charge from his gun.