Psíhdjä-Sáhpa, Yanktonai Sioux Man

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Artist

Karl Bodmer

Birth and death dates

1809 - 1893

Artist Nationality

Swiss

Title

Psíhdjä-Sáhpa, Yanktonai Sioux Man

Date

January 7, 1834

Dimensions

12 11/16 × 10 in. (32.2 × 25.4 cm)

Medium

Watercolor and graphite on paper

Institution

Joslyn Art Museum

Credit Line

Gift of the Enron Art Foundation

Accession Number

1986.49.277

Rights (i.e. copyright information)

Joslyn Art Museum

Photographer credit

Photograph © Bruce M. White, 2019

Commentary

This Yanktonai man was a frequent visitor at Fort Clark in January of 1834. He was curious about Maximilian and Bodmer, but did not want to be painted. Síh-Chidä, a comrade, persuaded Psíhdjä-Sáhpa to let his portrait be made. This was no easy task for Bodmer, for it was so cold at the fort that the artist's brush and colors kept freezing solid and had to be constantly thawed with hot water. Bear paws are painted on this young warrior's chest, and his ornaments include beaded hairbows, strings of dentalium shells and beads, and brass bangles. Anxious for battle honors, he attempted to persuade his Mandan friends to join him and other Yanktonai warriors in a raid on mutual enemies, but the Mandans declined. Psíhdjä-Sáhpa's portrait appears in Tableau 12 of the aquatint atlas.

References in Journal

January 7, 1834

Labels:

genre, portrait

Approximate Depicted Location:

Fort Clark, North Dakota