Tul-lock-chísh-ko, Drinks the Juice of the Stone (Choctaw) - George Catlin

A portrait of a Choctaw man holding lacrosse sticks, painted by George Catlin in 1834.

George Catlin painted this portrait of Tul-lock-chísh-ko, a Choctaw man, during his travels through the American West in the 1830s. The subject is depicted in profile, holding two lacrosse sticks, which were central to the traditional ball-play games of the Choctaw people. The figure wears red body paint, a fringed belt, and a white tail ornament, all rendered with the observational focus that defined Catlin's career.

Catlin travelled extensively to document the lives and customs of indigenous North American peoples before their cultures were further altered by westward expansion. His approach combined ethnographic documentation with the aesthetic conventions of nineteenth-century portraiture. The background is a soft, atmospheric wash, which directs the viewer's attention to the subject's posture and equipment. The painting is part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection, which holds a large portion of Catlin's Indian Gallery.

This work provides a visual record of Choctaw attire and athletic equipment from the early nineteenth century. The composition is straightforward, focusing on the individual as a representative of his culture. Catlin's use of colour, particularly the contrast between the red pigments and the white feathers, creates a clear visual hierarchy. The painting remains a primary source for historians interested in the material culture of the Choctaw nation during this period. The work is presented here as a high-quality fine art print, capturing the textures of the original oil paint and the specific details of the subject's regalia.