Comanche Meeting the Dragoons, 1834–35.

I found this painting on a website dedicated to the works of George Catlin as his paintings seem to be the most prominent in the recording of the movement of American West. This painting indicates a meeting between the Native Americans and the White people. The first thing that you notice when analyzing this portrait, is that the Native Americans seem to be leaning in towards the White people and the Whites are backing away. This can be prominently noticed by the stance of the horses, which ironically are different colours, and contrasting colours. This type of stance indicates to an audience that the Native Americans were attacking the White people, rather than the other way round which what seemed to be the case as shown in historical events. Other connotations of attacking nature are indicated by the weaponry, the fact that the crowd of Native Americans all carry weapons such as spears as if ready to attack, but the Whites stay there unarmed as if to appear as the victims.

More broadly in the portrait, you can observe the use of weather, as if the Native Americans bring a bad spirit in the air. The contrast of light and dark skies represents a good and evil side, with the Native Americans having a negative light, and the Whites to have a positive.

The portrait, the way it has been painted is interesting as it seems to be that only a snapshot has been used as there are many Native Americans, but not many White people. This seems to have been done purposely in order to manipulate the perception of Native Americans to an audience, to create a hostile and negative on them.

Ironically, the hostile nature was seen more in White people rather than Native Americans, but this portrait is indicating the latter. It seems that this portrait was painted in this way in order to convince people thinking of moving West, in particular Europeans or Easterners, that the Native Americans are hostile and dangers, therefore should be pushed out to create a safe environment.

The contrast between the two sides within the portrait indicates that the Native Americans do not fit in with this new ideology of 'Manifest Destiny' because of their supposed hostility, therefore need to be pushed out. 'Manifest Destiny' is being shown as something that needs to happen, but can only happen if the Native Americans are pushed out as otherwise the Whites will go on to be in danger and victimized by the Native Americans. Overall, Catlin seems to be trying to say that Native Americans pose a threat to 'Manifest Destiny' and the civilization of White people in the West.



http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/online/catlin/catlin_highlights2.cfm?StartRow=18

http://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/event-root/march-2013/american-indian-images-making-and-breaking-george-catlins-legacy.php?searched=images+american+indian&advsearch=allwords&highlight=ajaxSearch_highlight+ajaxSearch_highlight1+ajaxSearch_highlight2+ajaxSearch_highlight3