The image displays a dimly lit scene of a lush jungle environment. A figure stands on a small boat, holding a long fishing spear while a torch illuminates the area. The dense vegetation extends upward, blending into the dark sky. The leaves of the jungle are depicted with fluid brushstrokes, giving them a sense of movement. The color palette features dark shades of green with orange and red hues reflecting off the water. The background is obscured by the dense canopy, creating a sense of depth and seclusion.
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Spearing by Torchlight on the Amazon

George Catlin (American, 1796 - 1872)

1854/1869

Medium
oil on card mounted on paperboard
Classification
Painting
Dimensions
overall: 41 x 57 cm (16 1/8 x 22 7/16 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