Beggar's Dance 1849 - 1855

Seth Eastman, an artist and West Point graduate, made this watercolor and graphite drawing titled "Beggar's Dance." Eastman's military career afforded him opportunities to depict Native American life, but his position within the U.S. Army, an institution instrumental in the displacement and oppression of Native peoples, complicates the interpretation of his work. The image shows a group of Dakota people engaged in a ceremonial dance. The inclusion of tipis, traditional dwellings, and the landscape, place the scene in a specific cultural and geographical context. But the title, "Beggar's Dance," reflects a colonialist perspective that might diminish the cultural significance and spiritual depth of the ceremony, framing it instead as a form of supplication. Eastman's position as an outsider likely influenced his interpretation and representation of this cultural practice. To fully understand this artwork, we need to consider the history of U.S.-Dakota relations, military records, and indigenous voices. By engaging with these resources, we can gain a deeper understanding of the complex social and political context in which it was made.