Ball-play of the Choctaw – Ball Down

George Catlin, Ball-play of the Choctaw--Ball Down, 1834-1835, oil on canvas, 19 ⁵⁄₈ x 27 ⁵⁄₈ in. (49.7 x 70.1 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Joseph Harrison, Jr., 1985.66.429

Free to use

Artwork Details

Title: Ball-play of the Choctaw – Ball Down
Artist: George Catlin
Date: 1834-1835
Location: Not on view
Dimensions: 19 ⁵⁄₈ x 27 ⁵⁄₈ in. (49.7 x 70.1 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Joseph Harrison, Jr.
Mediums: oil
Mediums Description: oil on canvas
Classifications: Painting
Subjects: Figure group — male
Indian — Choctaw
Recreation — sport and play — ball
Object Number: 1985.66.429
Linked Open Data: https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1985.66.429

Artwork Description

In Choctaw lacrosse, which George Catlin witnessed in 1834, each team was cheered on by friends, family, and fans who camped at the opposite ends of the field to watch the game and bet on its outcome. Catlin noted that women did much of the wagering, which involved “knives-dresses-blankets-pots and kettles-dogs and horses, and guns.”