Mah-táhp-ta-a, Rushes through the Middle, a Brave

About this artwork

“The Mandans (or See-pohs-kah-nu-mah-kah-kee, ‘people of the pheasants,’ as they call themselves), are perhaps one of the most ancient tribes of Indians in our country. Their origin, like that of all the other tribes is from necessity, involved in mystery and obscurity . . . They take great pride in relating their traditions, with regard to their origin; contending that they were the first people created on earth. Their existence in these regions has not been from a very ancient period; an...

Art Historical Context

In 1832, George Catlin, a pioneering American artist dedicated to documenting Native American life, captured this striking portrait of Mah-tá-ta-a, known as "Rushes through Middle, a Brave," during his visit to a Mandan village along the Upper Missouri River.lin, famous for his realistic oil paintings that form his renowned "Indian Gallery," sought to preserve the customs and visages of tribes like the Mand before European influence forever altered them. This work exemplifies his ethnographic approach, blending portraiture with cultural observation. The Mandans, whom Catlin described as the "...

About the Artist

George Catlin · 1796–1872

George Catlin (1796–1872), born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, to Putnam Catlin and Polly Sutton—who had been captured by Native Americans during the 1778 Battle of Wyoming—initially pursued a legal career. Trained at Litchfield Law School, he was admitted to the bar in 1819 but abandoned law after two years to study art in Philadelphia in 1823. Self-taught as a portraitist, Catlin quickly gained ...