Changing Cultural Representations

Artistic and cultural representations of Native Americans changed dramatically during the nineteenth century. First depicted idealistically as noble-yet-savage beings, Indians soon became viewed as ignoble and bloodthirsty savages who simply hindered white progress and the fulfillment of the notion of Manifest Destiny. With the decline of Native American populations in the latter part of the century, Indians were seen as "doomed," in part because they had not abandoned their native culture in favor of assimilation. In general, representations of Native Americans mirrored white cultural stereotypes and political views, which favored the acquisition of Indian lands. White America generally perceived Indians on the western frontier through their own eyes and interpretations-perceptions often simply invented as a way of rationalizing the existence of Native Americans in their midst. Later nineteenth century portrayals of Indians did not accurately depict native life, rather they simply enacted cultural and political thought of the period.

Although Karl Bodmer generally painted Native Americans sympathetically as "noble savages," a number of his images foreshadow later, less generous perceptions of Indians. Thus, while designed to be an ethnographic record of a "primitive" people whom he depicted as noble and enlightened savages, Bodmer's images also capture Indians within the more overt racial context which soon came to dominate popular culture and thought in the United States.

Sasha Lourie