PRIMARY SOURCE ANALYSIS: CREEK NATION
The Creeks, also known as Muscogee, are Native people in the Southeastern part of the United States. They are not one tribe but a union of many several which was created by the many effects European invasion had on natives. Two primary sources are analyzed to show the Creek culture from the 19th and 20th century. Watercolors called “An Indian of the Creek Nation Sketched from Nature at Mobile Alabama” from Edward Woolf and “Muskogee Polecat Dance” from Fred Beaver gives insight on how changes in America affected the Creeks culture and how the creators perceived them.
Woolf’s painting “An Indian of the Creek Nation Sketched from Nature at Mobile Alabama” was created circa 1837. At first glance you see a figure foreground that is to be a Creek. The Creek looks to be covering their face as to shield with a blanket or clothing of some type from the viewer. It is not known of the figures gender but while looking at the figure it seems to be a male by the muscular legs. The figure’s shadow on the ground indicates that it is day time. Towards the middle ground to the right there is a tree behind a piece of high raised land. The tree looks to be dead because it is wilting. On the left side of the work, the grey color of the sky in the background creates a focal area. There is a tipi in the background which is to suggest being the Creeks’ home with more trees behind it. Under the image there is writing describing the content of the artwork.
Beaver’s painting “Muskogee Polecat Dance” was created in 1949. Muskogee Indians are in a big structure created out of logs around a fire. Eight men are dressed with feathers and bells with skunk skin on their backs dancing around the fire. Two natives sit on a rug in the foreground as three men stand on right and two men stand on left side at the background of the image. Some of the men not dancing create music with shakers too.
Both artists depicted Creek culture but they are opposite. Woolf who was an immigrate created more than one kind of art such as he worked with music while Beaver was a Native American artist. Woolf most likely interacted with the Creeks because the watercolor is sketched from nature as he indicated by writing so in the painting. Also the Creek appears to be approaching the viewer as to be approaching Woolf as he was creating the work.[1] Beaver’s image most likely shows true events because he was a Native American and so was surrounded by certain practices. Indications of first- hand knowledge are in the figures of the image with many details in their clothing and the dancing conveyed in the work has not just an ordinary stance of dance but particular crouching.[2]When it comes to Woolf’s watercolor there seems to be little or no bias. He painted the subject from real life and the colors used helps conveys that by using limited natural colors.[3] If the artwork had any influence of ideas such as stereotypes then the figure would have feathers, weapons and shown as a tall statured person like Europeans perceived Natives in images. Around 1837, the Second Creek War occurred when the government wanted to relocate Natives. Since Woolf’s work was created during that period it may show a time in history and that he wanted to record the outcome. How the figure gives off an insecure stance with their face covered gives in to the idea that the work recorded history because like many people who have been through tragedies they withdraw from others. Also with that in mind, for Woolf the Creeks are seen as naturally losers [4] Unlike Woolf, Beaver shows bias because since he is a Native the painting is more susceptible to show Creeks in a friendly and peaceful way even if it was not intentional. The Creeks are in a stereotypical way with how the men are dressed with feathers.[5] The painting was created in 1949; European influences with use of trade such as the use of horses, feathers, and beads etc. already affected Native cultures by then. With that in mind the paintings that Beaver created may depict history, show what have become of Creek culture and/ or since he was a Native gave a better understanding of where they come from.
The sources both depict the Creek life in different views. If the Creek in Mobile was painted in the aftermath of the war then this image would show how unstable life had become for the Creeks. Also the painting gives an insight of what kind of tribe they were at that moment. The tipi can indicate that the Creek migrated and that hunting was part of life with the skin needed to be used for the tipi.[6] Polecat dancing shows traditions and influence of other cultures that changed their lives when they incorporated new ideas into old ones. Beads and dyes for example from trade are integrated into ceremonial traditions such as the dance.[7] Woolf and Beaver equally convey their art in an exceptional way because the Creeks have real emotion and show actions natives have towards non- natives.
Creek culture and life are greatly depicted from both watercolor paintings. The sources would be used to give evidence to Creek culture and how Native and European interactions affected that. Images such as Woolf’s and Beaver’s can be helpful as evidence to history and many ways the European invaders affected Creek life.
[1]Edward Woolf. An Indian of the Creek Nation Sketched from Nature of Mobile Alabama, c.1837. Watercolor painting. University Libraries Division of Special Collections: The University of Alabama.
[2]Fred Beaver. Muskogee Polecat Dancing, 1949. Watercolor painting. Philbrook Museum of Art. ArtStor. http://www.artstor.org/index.shtml.
[3] Woolf, An Indian of the Creek Nation Sketched from Nature of Mobile Alabama.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Beaver, Muskogee Polecat Dancing.
[6] Woolf, An Indian of the Creek Nation Sketched from Nature of Mobile Alabama.
[7] Beaver, Muskogee Polecat Dancing.
Bibliography
Fred Beaver, Muskogee Polecat Dancing, 1949. Watercolor painting. Philbrook Museum of Art. ArtStor. http://www.artstor.org/index.shtml.
Edward Woolf, An Indian of the Creek Nation Sketched from Nature of Mobile Alabama, c.1837. Watercolor painting. University Libraries Division of Special Collections: The University of Alabama.