George Catlin
A Native Artist - Misha Dubuc
Who is George Catlin?
George Catlin was born on July 26, 1796, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. During a time when the United States was pushing itself westward, Catlin became very interested with the open frontier. He was also very intrigued with Native American culture, as he would sometimes go out and search for artifacts. He even befriended a Native American boy; this may have helped Catlin form a deeper appreciation towards the people themselves, as opposed to the hostile nature of his society. He briefly studied law, but his true passions burst forth when he started his painting career. One specific event that left a deep impression on him was a delegation of Native Americans marching through Pennsylvania; he was amazed by just how sophisticated and “noble” they seemed. He traveled extensively between the Great Lakes and Florida to capture portraits of this “dying race”, and even went to Europe to criticize American imperialism. However, he actually did very little to actively protect the Native Americans from expansionism, and eventually moved to England because of it. Despite his inabilities, his artwork is still preserved today in order to showcase the cultural significance of the Native Americans. Catlin died on December 23, 1872.