A portrait of a Choctaw man in traditional stickball attire, 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 the traditional attire worn for the Choctaw stickball game, a sport of significant cultural and social importance. He holds two rackets, which were standard equipment for the game, and wears a tail-like ornament made of white horsehair attached to his belt. His body is decorated with red pigment, a common practice for participants in such athletic contests.

Catlin produced this work as part of his extensive project to document the lives, customs, and appearances of Indigenous peoples across North America. His approach often combined observational accuracy with the stylistic conventions of nineteenth-century portraiture. The figure is shown in profile against a simplified, atmospheric background, which directs the viewer's attention to the details of his dress and physical form. The lighting is soft, allowing the textures of the skin, the horsehair, and the wooden rackets to remain clear.

This painting is part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum collection. It provides a visual record of Choctaw material culture from the early nineteenth century. Catlin's work remains a primary source for historians studying the interactions between European settlers and Indigenous nations during this period. The portrait captures the subject in a moment of readiness, reflecting the physical discipline required for the game. The composition is balanced, focusing on the posture of the athlete as he prepares for the match. By documenting these specific cultural practices, Catlin created a series of images that offer insight into the traditions of the Choctaw people before the widespread impact of forced relocation.