Ball-play Dance, Choctaw
1834-1835
- Medium
- oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 49.7 × 70 cm
- Status
- In Museum Collection
- Collect24 Art ID
- C24-137587
In 1834, George Catlin witnessed Choctaw lacrosse in Indian Territory near present-day Oklahoma, and was captivated by the game. Ball-play was at the core of an elaborate ceremony that brought recognition and status to individuals within the tribe. Before the match, players and their supporters passed the night in singing, dancing, and soliciting divine support. Catlin sketched this image of a ba…
Provenance
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Joseph Harrison, Jr.
Registry history
- 1834-1835 — Recorded in the collection of Smithsonian American Art Museum
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