See-non-ty-a, an Iowa Medicine Man
1844-1845
George Catlin traveled thousands of miles across the American frontier in the 1830s and 40s, determined to paint Native American tribes before their cultures were forever changed by westward expansion. This striking portrait features See-non-ty-a, an Iowa Medicine Man, looking incredibly dignified in a dramatic porcupine quill headdress, large shell gorgets, and intricate face paint. Catlin's vivid realism captures the piercing gaze of a respected spiritual leader, creating a crucial historical record that preserves the likenesses and traditions of Indigenous peoples during a turbulent era of American history.
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