Ke-Chím-Qua, Big Bear
1830
George Catlin captured the dignified presence of the Sauk chief Ke-Chím-Qua, also known as Big Bear, during his extensive travels across the American frontier in the 1830s. Clad in a striking fringed cloak and a feathered headdress, the chief grips a vibrant red flag, a powerful symbol of his status and alliances during a turbulent era of westward expansion. Catlin was absolutely obsessed with documenting Native American life before it vanished, creating hundreds of these vivid, rapid-fire portraits to preserve their legacy in what he called his 'Indian Gallery.'
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