Scalp Dance - Sioux

George Catlin

National Gallery of Art

This painting shows a group of people standing outside in a circle. They all have reddish-brown skin and long, dark hair decorated with red, white, and black feathers, and they wear a variety of garments. Some have tan pants with long fringe running down the sides, while others wear black and white feathers around their waists, hanging from colorful belts. Many of them have arms, legs, and chests decorated with red patterns like lines, swirls, dots, or handprints. They also wear lots of jewelry, including silvery bands on their arms and wrists, earrings in red and teal, and long strands of necklaces in similar colors. The people hold weapons including long bows, round shields, tall spears, and boomerang-shaped swords. Those around the edge of the circle appear to be dancing, their bodies bent over, knees bent, or arms outstretched. A group of people in the center of the circle hold up tall sticks with red ovals hanging from the top, black strands hanging from the ovals. The ground is light green, and the sky is light blue. The edges of the painting are plain, beige paper, within a green border.