Portrait of an Indian 

Charles M. Russell created this watercolor painting entitled, *Portrait of an Indian,* during a time of significant cultural change and conflict in the American West. Russell, who lived among and depicted the lives of Native Americans, was both an observer and interpreter of a rapidly vanishing way of life. This portrait offers a glimpse into the complex dynamics between the colonizers and the Indigenous peoples. Look closely, what details stand out to you? The man's gaze is direct, yet there's a sense of stoicism or perhaps even resignation in his expression. The traditional clothing and adornments signal pride in his cultural identity, yet the context of the painting's creation—a time of forced assimilation and displacement—infuses the image with a layer of melancholy. Russell's work, while celebrated for its romantic depictions of the West, also serves as a reminder of the often-unacknowledged violence and injustice experienced by Native American communities. Consider how the act of portraiture itself—the power dynamic between artist and subject—plays into this narrative.