Hide Painting of the Sun Dance

Attributed to Codsiogo (Cadzi Codi, about 1866 - 1912)

Eastern Shoshone, elk hide and pigment, approximately. 81 x 78 inches

1890–1900

Brooklyn Museum

At the first glance, this piece forms the most “authentic” Native American art. Animal hide paintings, which had started earlier than the cave paintings, are the tradition of Green Basin and Great Plains in the United States. The artist of this piece, Codsiogo, from Eastern Shoshone tribe, has lived in the Wild River Reservation in Wyoming. According to the New York Times, 14,000 residence of that reservation suffered from a crime rate more than five times the national average, and the unemployment rate was approximately above 80 percent in his time period.[1] To make a living of his family under such a harsh environment, Codsiogo painted many of those hide paintings as an attractive souvenir for the white buyers. As responding to consumer demand, the subject matter is carefully chosen to show the uniqueness of his tribe’s culture.[2] As the original purpose of hide paintings was a record of the tribe’s history, many of images Codsiogo painted was shifted away from the original purpose of the work. Although, Non-Native Americans saw Codsiogo’s hide paintings as a pure symbol of indigenousness. This twist between cultural representation and misperception often plays a role in the history of Native American art.

[1] Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank, “Eastern Shoshone: Hide Painting of the Sun Dace, Attributed to Codsiogo (Cadzi Cody),” in Smarthistory, August 9, 2015, http://smarthistory.org/eastern-shoshone-hide-painting-of-the-sun-dance-attribued-to-codsiogo-cadzi-codi/ (accessed May 19, 2016).

[2] “The Art of Cadsi Cody,” (University of Wyoming, 2011), http://wyoshpo.state.wy.us/pdf/2011Poster.pdf (accessed May 19, 2016). 

Charles S. Baker and Eli Johnston, Portrait of Codsiogo (detail), before 1898, photograph

(American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming)