Flat Head Woman and Child 1852

Paul Kane’s painting, Flat Head Woman and Child, now in the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, presents us with a portrait of a woman and child from the Flathead Nation. The title itself is significant, referencing the practice of artificial cranial deformation, a cultural practice that marked the Flathead people. Kane's portrayal offers insight into how First Nations people were seen and represented in the 19th century through the colonial lens of the Canadian art world. During this time, the Hudson’s Bay Company exerted considerable economic and political influence over this territory. Kane was commissioned to depict scenes from Indigenous life. The image presents us with an intimate portrait, but there is a political dimension to these types of commissions. To understand this painting fully, one must consult the historical record and also examine the museum's role in shaping the narrative around First Nations cultures. The meaning of this artwork is inseparable from the historical context in which it was made and the institutions that have preserved it.