The "Doomed" Indian

As the American Indian population seriously declined during the later half of the nineteenth century-due to disease, land relocation policies and westward expansion-representations of Indians reverted back to earlier beliefs that Indians would succumb to the forces of civilization. In an attempt to finally resolve land conflicts, and in a reflection of cultural superiority, Indians were shown pitted in a losing struggle against the modern world and civilization. The image of the dying Indian demonstrated the eventual outcome of those who failed to adapt to modern western civilization and policies. Although Karl Bodmer painted Native Americans in a much earlier time, during the early 1830s, some of his images could have been recycled during the latter part of the century to reflect then prevailing attitudes regarding the vanishing and doomed Indian.

Sasha Lourie