Two Saukie Chiefs and a Woman 1861 - 1869

Editor: We're looking at "Two Saukie Chiefs and a Woman," a watercolor drawing by George Catlin, made sometime between 1861 and 1869. There’s a real stillness to this piece, a formality in how the figures are arranged within that oval frame. What strikes you about it? Curator: What immediately captures my attention is the balanced asymmetry of the composition. The central figure of the chief, adorned in regalia, acts as the focal point. Note how the other figures and the spear point our eye directly at him. What significance might this ordering hold in its emphasis of color? Editor: Color? I hadn't thought of that. I was focusing more on what each of the figures are wearing and holding. Curator: Indeed. Consider how the warmer tones worn by the male figures command our gaze against the paler colors and more muted background. The effect draws one’s eye towards the active forms that establish the dynamic relationships between them. Even within each of their outfits there are formal relations being struck with a variety of different materials and patterns, and that relates to the painting overall, don't you agree? Editor: Now that you point it out, the relationships of these different colors create a complex sense of unity that seems important to the subjects, which also seems like it would affect the relationship between them too. I didn't notice this before! Curator: Precisely. Color here functions structurally to enhance not only the aesthetic qualities but the relationships represented between these figures as well. We might understand a new formal dimension. Editor: I’m starting to see how looking at these elements and how they relate can really change your interpretation of a piece. Thanks! Curator: A valuable thing to recognize when taking any aesthetic endeavor!