The painting shows a coastal scene from an elevated viewpoint. The horizon splits the image between the sky and the sea. A sailboat can be seen on the horizon. On the left, there are tall trees with thin trunks and lush foliage. The color palette transitions from greens and browns to yellows and oranges in the sky with scattered clouds. Below the trees, there are figures on a cliff overlooking more figures on the shoreline.
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An Indian Ladder - Nayas Indians

George Catlin (American, 1796 - 1872)

1855/1869

Medium
oil on card mounted on paperboard
Classification
Painting
Dimensions
overall: 46.3 x 62.5 cm (18 1/4 x 24 5/8 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