Indigenous nations from the Plains region of the United States and Canada have long-standing art histories that include autoethnographic battle records, where artists use their personal experience to connect to larger social and cultural themes. Figurative paintings on wartime objects were held in high regard among warrior societies.

This shield cover was a painted record of the artist’s own lived experience, and he has depicted himself as the warrior on the right. Both men on this shield cover are ready for battle. The man on the left has red pigment on his face, from his temples to his cheekbones. He wears a coat made from a wool blanket with red, yellow, and blue stripes; leggings of navy-blue wool; and moccasins. His gun, pointed at his opponent, is decorated with feathers. There is face paint on the man on the right (that is, the artist) as well. He wears a war bonnet made from eagle feathers, and he is wrapped in a red blanket for warmth. He also points a gun at his opponent. The outer edge of the shield cover has three bands of marks: a semisolid green outer ring, and two interior double rings of repetitive red and blue linework. The vertical line of three tricolored circles in the center separates the artist and his opponent and lends atmosphere to this encounter. Research to identify the artist, provenance, and respective Indigenous nations of this shield cover is ongoing.

—Jordan Poorman Cocker, Henry Luce Foundation Curatorial Scholar for Indigenous Painting Collection Research, 2021

This text was developed from an interview with Field Museum curator Nina Sanders (Apsáalooke) by Jordan Poorman Cocker, January 25, 2021