The image depicts a scene within an oval boundary. The horizon is slightly above the painting's center, obscured by tall trees and vegetation. The brushstrokes are soft, creating a textured look for the foliage. The color palette includes earthy tones dominated by greens, browns, and deep reds. In the foreground, there is a narrow canoe with figures inside, and on the riverbank, more figures are pulling something with a rope. The background shows a dense forest.
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Lengua Indians Ascending the Rapids of the Rio Uruguay

George Catlin (American, 1796 - 1872)

1854/1869

Medium
oil on card mounted on paperboard
Classification
Painting
Dimensions
overall: 47.5 x 63 cm (18 11/16 x 24 13/16 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

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