Seth Eastman (1808 - 1875)
The Tanner

Eastman, an officer in the United States Army, painted scenes of Indian life nearby Fort Snelling (Minnesota Territory) where he was stationed. Because he lived near the Dakota and Chippewa peoples, instead of only visiting Indian tribes for brief periods as did other artists of his time, Eastman was able to observe and depict many aspects of everyday life. His straightforward style and seemingly unstudied compositions make his paintings seem to be factual and realistic, but the texts that accompanied illustrations of his work added interpretations that included moral judgments of Indian cultures.

1848, oil on canvas
Rockwell Museum, Gift of Robert F. Rockwell, Jr., acc. 78.29 f

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