Hó-Ta-Mä, Ponca Man

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Artist

Karl Bodmer

Birth and death dates

1809 - 1893

Artist Nationality

Swiss

Title

Hó-Ta-Mä, Ponca Man

Date

May 31, 1833

Dimensions

10 7/8 × 8 3/4 in. (27.6 × 22.2 cm)

Medium

Watercolor and graphite on paper

Institution

Joslyn Art Museum

Credit Line

Gift of the Enron Art Foundation

Accession Number

1986.49.242

Rights (i.e. copyright information)

Joslyn Art Museum

Photographer credit

Photograph © Bruce M. White, 2019

Commentary

On May 31, during a sojourn at Fort Pierre; Bodmer painted this young Ponca man who was visiting or (from an inscription on the reverse of the painting) possibly living with a group of Sioux camped there. Evidently a friendly, gregarious person, he was frequently observed playing games with his comrades. Maximilian described him as handsome. He appears here with leather braided locks, what appears to be a bone ornament or talisman in his hair, and a shell pendant around his neck.

References in Journal

June 1, 1833

Labels:

genre, portrait , Fort Pierre, South Dakota

Approximate Depicted Location:

Fort Pierre, South Dakota