This is a painting of a group of Indigenous people engaged in a dance ritual. The figures are adorned in traditional attire, including feathers and body paint, and are arranged in a circular formation. Some figures hold objects resembling musical instruments or ceremonial items. The ground is covered with a light green grass texture, and the sky above is depicted in serene shades of blue with light clouds. The style is reminiscent of George Catlin, known for his paintings of Native American life. The artwork is encased in a painted oval border.
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Amusing Dance - Sioux

George Catlin (American, 1796 - 1872)

1861/1869

Medium
oil on card mounted on paperboard
Classification
Painting
Dimensions
overall: 46.7 x 61.7 cm (18 3/8 x 24 5/16 in.)
Culture
American
Museum
National Gallery of Art, CAB
Credit line
Paul Mellon Collection
Rights
Public domain (NGA Open Access, CC0), as the museum states it.
Who can see it
Tweens profiles and older: its subjects are known and suit older children. How works are placed

View at the National Gallery of Art