Bust of an American Indian c. 1848 - 1849

Henry Kirke Brown made this bronze bust of an American Indian in the 19th century. It's a striking image that invites us to consider the complex relationship between art, representation, and social power. Brown was working at a time when American identity was being forged through westward expansion, often at the expense of indigenous populations. How does this context shape our understanding of the sculpture? The bust presents its subject with a sense of dignity, yet it also contributes to a visual record that was often used to exoticize and marginalize Native Americans. Consider, for example, the way Brown has rendered the subject's features in bronze, a material traditionally associated with classical European sculpture. To fully understand this work, we might turn to historical documents, photographs, and other visual materials that shed light on the representation of Native Americans in 19th-century art and culture. By examining the social and institutional forces that shaped its creation, we can begin to unravel the complex meanings embedded within this powerful image.