Wild Hog Ledger-Kansas State Historical Society

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HUNTING SCENE: Man on Blue Horse Hunts Bear with Carbine

Ethnographic Notes

This two-page diptych shows a hunting scene with a mounted man to the right shooting and killing a bear. Right (page 3): The pencil-outlined man is colored red with watercolor; the horse is filled blue pencil. The two figures fill the page. The man has no detailing of hair or face; his torso is red with no detail, and his legs are not indicated. Two red breech clout flaps are visible, with white-edged selvedges (characteristic of trade cloth). He has outstretched arms with a quirt in his left, with all five fingers spread out. The man holds a red carbine in his right hand. The horse holds still as the bear on the opposite page charges. The blue horse�s eyes are round, and its ears are erect. The horse�s tail is untied. Left: The bear is outlined in pencil and filled with black ink. The artist�s finger prints are visible. Red shows location of the bear�s gunshot wounds, the entry and exit points of two bullets. Claws are detailed in pencil, as well as the teeth of the lower jaw. The charging bear is mortally wounded, with blood coming from mouth and neck wounds. Footprint (dashes) behind the animal�s feet show its movement in the struggle. Media: Pencil, colored pencil, water color, pen and ink The black ink is smudged with a distinct fingerprint. Candace Greene notes this unique feature of the Kansas State Historical Society ledgers she examined: �the technique of smudged ink filling is unique. It appears to have been applied directly with the finger tips in many places� (1985 correspondence with Ramon Powers).


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    Denise Low
    5/2/12, 2:09 PM

    The charging bear has blood coming from mouth and neck wounds. Blood from the mouth indicates the mortal nature of the wound.

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The cover inscription reads: "Pictures drawn by Wild Hog and other northern Cheyenne Indian Chiefs while in th...

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Document Info
Plate No: 3
Page No: 2-3
Media: Colored pencil, lead pencil, pen and ink, water color
Dimensions: 3.25 x 5 in (8.5 x 12.75 cm)
Custodian
Kansas Historical Society/kansasmemory.org
Artist
Wild Hog
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