George Catlin, Wée-ke-rú-law, He Who Exchanges
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Joseph Harrison, Jr. · Smithsonian American Art Museum, Smithsonian Open Access (CC0)View original →
George Catlin

Wée-ke-rú-law, He Who Exchanges

1832

Current Collection

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Washington, D.C., United States

Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
73.7 × 60.9 cm
Status
In Museum Collection
Collect24 Art ID
C24-138539

This portrait reflects George Catlin’s respect for the Native Americans who posed for him. He Who Exchanges looked directly at Catlin while the painter worked to capture his likeness. The figure’s pose reflects the symbolic importance of the effigy pipe he holds in his hand. Catlin had been given a similar pipe by a Pawnee, who explained that the seated figure on the pipe was his own portrait and…

Provenance

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Joseph Harrison, Jr.

Registry history

  • 1832 — Recorded in the collection of Smithsonian American Art Museum

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