This elk hide painting is attributed to Cotsiogo of the Eastern Shoshone people of Wyoming. I was created a a sort of tourist piece focusing on imagery typically associated with “primitive” Indians. the painting radiates around the central image of the sun dance. This sacred religious dance was outlawed by the US government so Cotsiogo mixed elements of it with that of the wolf dance to make it acceptable. He depicts men in feathered headdresses dancing traditionally around a buffalo head while being watched over by an eagle. The buffalo is an especially important symbol in the intention of this painting. Buffalo hunting was especially attached to the American perception of native americans and therefore using this imagery helped Cotsiogo to sell many of his paintings and support him while living on the reservation. Warriors run back to camp garbed in feathers, others hold bows while on horseback, and women preform tasks by a fire, again all symbols typically associated with native american culture. This piece is now found in the Indian Arts Research Center, School for Advanced Research, Santa Fe.
OHS APAH 