Subject: warrior-raider
Setting: American Southwest mid-late 19thc
Amon Carter Museum *
"George Catlin (1796-1872) Archery of the Apaches, ca. 1855 Oil on paper mounted to paperboard ...
For twenty years, George Catlin traveled among the Indians; his earliest travels took him through the northern plains and into the Southwest. But in 1854-1855, he traveled west of the Rocky Mountains to record the native peoples in that still little-known region. This lively scene resulted from that trip. Here, Apache men on horseback put on a rousing display of their superb archery skills as Catlin, the Apache chief, and villagers look on. The mounted archers, their horses at full gallop, shoot their arrows into bull's-eye targets that partially encircle the spectators. Catlin noted of this display that 'excellency in archery with mounted Indians consists in the rapidity with which the arrows can be put upon the string and got off, and the accuracy of aim, whilst their horses are at full speed -- for in this way their enemies and their game are killed.'"
* Sid Richardson Museum
"Apache Medicine Song Frederic Remington 1861-1909 Oil on canvas 1908 ... In this painting agitated shadows in the foreground and the dancing forms of distant trees give an air of mystery to the purpose of this gathering around the fire. Thet men, whose faces are defined by the glowing orange and red tones of the firelight, all seem to have their mouths open. The central figure in the foreground with his back to the viewer closes off the group's activity to outside spectators. What happens outside of this circle is unimportant -- they are totally absorbed within the activities inside the circle. What is the purpose of this gathering? What is the focus of their attention?"
