Mih-Tutta-Hangkusch, Mandan Village

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Title

Mih-Tutta-Hang-kusch, Mandan Village

Date

Summer 1833

Dimensions

11 7/8 x 16 7/8 (30.16 x 42.86 cm)

Medium

Watercolor and graphite on paper

Institution

Joslyn Art Museum

Credit Line

Gift of the Enron Art Foundation

Accession Number

1986.49.166

Rights (i.e. copyright information)

Joslyn Art Museum

Photographer credit

Photograph © Bruce M. White, 2019

Commentary

The strategic positioning of villages for defense purposes is evident in this view of Mih-Tutta-Hang-Kusch, located high on a promontory jutting out into the Missouri River with steep banks on three sides. A palisade surrounding the village offered additional protection, but this had fallen into disrepair at the time of Bodmer's sketch in the summer of 1833, and only a small portion of it can be seen in the drawing. Mih-Tutta-Hang-Kusch consisted of approximately sixty-five earth lodges or houses. House roofs were used for a variety of daily activities in fine weather, and small figures are visible on them in this scene. The scaffolds around the houses were used to dry corn and other food. In the foreground are penciled representations of women and bull boats, a form of river transportation pictured in more detail in Image 1986.49.273.B, Image 1986.49.365, and Image 1986.49.274. Bodmer cropped this scene for the aquatint (Tableau 6), bringing the village into closer view.

References in Journal

February 9, 1834

Labels:

structure , study , Mih-Tutta-Hangkusch , Missouri River

Approximate Depicted Location:

Mih-Tutta-Hang-kusch, Mandan Village