Head of an American Indian c. 1848 - 1849

Henry Kirke Brown made this bronze sculpture, “Head of an American Indian,” at an unknown date. Brown lived during a period of intense westward expansion and conflict with Native American tribes. He renders this figure with a certain nobility, seemingly aiming to capture an idealized, perhaps even romanticized, image of the Native American. However, consider the power dynamics at play. As a white artist, Brown's representation is inevitably filtered through the lens of his own cultural background and the prevailing attitudes of the time. What does it mean to create a "head" of a people who are being systematically displaced and erased? The sculpture prompts us to reflect on the complexities of representation, the gaze of the artist, and the historical context in which such works are created and viewed. It's a reminder that art is never neutral, and that it always carries with it the weight of history and the imprint of cultural power.