Muslin painting

This muslin painting by an unknown Lakota artist portrays his people’s victory in battle over a band of Crow warriors: here, the mounted Lakota run down their Crow adversaries, most of whom retreat on foot. Characteristic of these representations, the work’s action is meant to be read from right to left, and its protagonists—the Lakota fighters—can be identified by their position on the right side of each vignette.



Muslin paintings derive their name from the lightweight cotton cloth that served as a substrate for these creations. These narrative works were produced by Plains Indians during the late 1800s and early 1900s, serving as a means to record their traditional way of life following their confinement to U.S. government reservations.