Indian Hunter and His Dog

Paul Manship created many sculptures of Native American hunters, including this one for a fountain in Cochran Memorial Park in his hometown of St. Paul. The subject was a favorite of the artist’s because it reminded him of his childhood in Minnesota, and he returned to it often throughout his career. In these sculptures the determined expressions and animated poses of the figures evoke the excitement of the chase. Here, the hunter’s arrows, feathers, loincloth, and right leg form strong horizontal elements that correspond to his dog’s urgent movement. The dog gazes upward at the arrows, creating a link that establishes the cooperative relationship of hunter and dog.