Three Young Chinook Men

George Catlin

National Gallery of Art

The painting depicts three men seated on the ground. The man on the left is seated on a log with one leg over the other, holding a bow and a shield. He has long dark hair adorned with red and white feathers. The central figure is seated on the ground, holding a feathered fan and arrows, with a similar headdress made of red and white feathers. On the right, the third man sits on a rock, leaning slightly forward, holding a stick with both hands. His headband incorporates red and white feathers, and he wears beads around his neck. All men are minimally clothed, wearing what appears to be traditional attire. The background shows a simple landscape with hints of greenery, suggesting grass and distant trees under a subtle, lightened sky. The overall setting appears natural and serene, composed mostly of earthy tones.