Pipe Dance, Assiniboine
1835-1837
George Catlin traveled thousands of miles in the 1830s to document Native American life, creating this lively scene of the Assiniboine people performing a pipe dance. You can almost hear the rhythmic chanting as the dancers, adorned with feather headdresses, move in a circle around a central fire. In the background, faint outlines of tipis and a crowd of onlookers set the stage for this communal celebration. Catlin's work is a crucial historical record, capturing traditions and faces that were rapidly changing due to westward expansion, and today his massive 'Indian Gallery' is a treasure trove at the Smithsonian.
Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum