Four Flathead Indians

George Catlin

National Gallery of Art

The image shows four Native American individuals. Three of them are standing, with one kneeling or sitting on the ground. The central figure, a woman, is standing upright and covered with a draped cloth. Her hair is long and is decorated with two feathers. A young child is standing next to her, visible from the waist up. To the right, a man stands holding a spear in one hand and has a bow slung over his shoulder. His long hair is styled back, and he wears minimal clothing, with a piece of cloth wrapped around his waist. On the left, another figure is seated, holding a wrapped bundle. This seated figure has long hair and appears to be looking at the ground. The figures are barefoot, and the background is a natural landscape with grass and an open sky, featuring soft clouds.