Study of Indian Riding c. 1890

Walter Shirlaw made this pencil sketch, "Study of Indian Riding," sometime during his career. At first glance, it appears to be an innocuous drawing of a Native American man on horseback. But when we consider the time and place in which it was made, a more complex picture emerges. In the late 19th century, the United States government was actively engaged in a policy of westward expansion, which involved the displacement and often violent suppression of Native American tribes. Artists like Shirlaw, who often depicted Native Americans, were participating in a cultural discourse that both romanticized and exoticized indigenous peoples. Shirlaw's sketch may seem like a neutral observation, but it is important to remember that even seemingly objective representations can be shaped by the dominant ideologies of their time. Art historians can use a variety of resources, from government documents to popular literature, to better understand the social and political context in which artworks like this were created and displayed.