The Bear Dance
1844
George Catlin captured this lively scene of the Mandan tribe's Bear Dance, a ritual meant to ensure a successful hunt. Notice the wild mix of costumes—some dancers wear full bear skins with heads intact, while others sport wolf masks, creating a mythical procession. Catlin traveled thousands of miles in the 1830s to document Native American life before westward expansion changed it forever. This print comes from his famous 'North American Indian Portfolio,' which he used to fund his travels by showing it to fascinated audiences back East.
- Technique
- hand-colored lithograph
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