Upsichtä́, Mandan Man

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Artist

Karl Bodmer

Birth and death dates

1809 - 1893

Artist Nationality

Swiss

Title

Upsichtä́, Mandan Man

Date

February 6, 1834

Dimensions

12 5/8 x 10 in. (32.1 x 25.4 cm)

Medium

Watercolor and graphite on paper

Institution

Joslyn Art Museum

Credit Line

Gift of the Enron Art Foundation

Accession Number

1986.49.263

Rights (i.e. copyright information)

Joslyn Art Museum

Photographer credit

Photograph © Bruce M. White, 2019

Commentary

Upsichtä́ ("Great Blackness") was a warrior with a record of many brave deeds, including the killing of three Assiniboins in one battle. His chest and shoulders are painted with white clay, and he has apparently daubed more of the same material on his hair. According to Maximilian, face and body painting were matters of personal taste and whim, except when the paint was applied for ritual reasons or to represent war accomplishments. On social occasions the men would paint themselves in any fashion they thought handsome, each endeavoring to be different from his fellows. A mirror is bound to the base of Upsichtä́'s eagle wing fan. Mirrors were purchased from the traders and mounted in hand-carved wooden frames. They were carried everywhere by the young men, who used them constantly to check their appearance. The frames were often painted, studded with brass nails, or tied with cloth or fur ribbons.

References in Journal

February 6, 1834

Labels:

genre, portrait

Approximate Depicted Location:

Fort Clark, North Dakota