Book of Drawings, c. 1870-1890
Attributed to Ohet-tointexpand_more
Graphite, colored pencilexpand_more
The William Hood Dunwoody Fund and Gift of Jill Collins and John H. Thillmannexpand_more 98.151.2
Not on Viewexpand_more
An art form thousands of years old, Plains Indian drawings appear on rocks, hides, cloth, and paper. Their varied subjects include great accomplishments of individuals, important historical events, and ceremonial and daily life. Ohettoint (Charles O. Buffalo) produced this sketchbook while a prisoner of war at Fort Marion, in St. Augustine, Florida, in the 1870s. His drawings express Kiowa perspectives and aesthetic sensibilities. And they served as a form of resistance to cultural suppression and forced assimilation at the hands of the U.S. government, military, and others.
Once a powerful force in the Southern Plains region of North America, the Kiowa were respected as fierce warriors and highly skilled horse riders. This two-page drawing shows the centrality of the horse in Kiowa culture, presenting parading warriors and women on horseback along with details of traditional dress and regalia. From a wider perspective, Ohettoint’s pictographic representations of Kiowa tribal history reveal the changes that resulted from encounters with Euro-American culture.
Details
- Title
- Book of Drawings
- Artist Life
- Ka'igwu (Kiowa), 1852 - 1934
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 98.151.2
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know
Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.