Native American paints and painting
Native American paints and painting encompass a rich tradition that dates back to the earliest inhabitants of the Americas, with early forms such as pictographs—symbolic paintings on rock surfaces—being particularly notable. This art form varied significantly among tribes and regions, influenced by factors like tribal history and available materials. Prior to European contact, different styles included painting on animal skins in the Plains and East, wooden poles and masks in the Northwest Coast, and pottery and adobe walls in the Southwest. Common themes in Native American painting included religious, decorative, and historical elements, often prioritizing content over form.
Artistic styles typically featured geometric designs with simple representations, and symbolic paintings were often used in ceremonial contexts. Natural pigments derived from minerals and plants provided a palette that included red, yellow, dark brown, and white, with colors often carrying spiritual significance linked to cardinal directions. The advent of polychrome paints by the 1300s marked a significant evolution in the medium. Today, while contemporary Native American artists utilize modern materials, they continue to draw inspiration from traditional themes and techniques, reflecting both preservation and adaptation in their work. This ongoing artistic expression serves as a vital means of cultural identity and professional pursuit within Native communities.
Subject Terms
Native American paints and painting
Tribes affected: Pantribal
Significance: Painting has been a primary American Indian art form for thousands of years and is used for social, historical, and decorative purposes
American Indian painting reaches back to the earliest known inhabitants of the Americas. Some of the earliest paintings are called pictographs, which simply means paintings or drawings on rock. These drawings and paintings were highly symbolic and stylized and can be seen even today in certain areas, especially the Southwest of the United States.
Before the coming of the Europeans, many different forms of painting were in existence. Painting was prevalent in the Plains and East in the form of painting on animal skins and tattooing, in the Northwest Coast cultural area on wooden poles and masks, and in the Southwest cultural area and Mexico on pottery, rock, and adobe walls. These different forms of painting had primarily religious, decorative, and historical purposes, with the emphasis on content rather than form.
Styles of painting varied among tribes and regions and were based on such factors as tribal experience and available materials. Designs were generally two-dimensional and geometric, or linear, showing simple frontal and profile figures and shapes or geometric patterns. Designs developed as a result of visionary experiences were painted on shields, tipis, and clothing and were believed to give protection. Symbolic painting, which was more stylized and abstracted than representational, was often used for ceremonial mural and sand painting, rock art, heraldics, pottery, masks, and body painting. Representational painting was commonly used for historical purposes such as the recording of events and for calendrical use.
The choice of medium was determined by what was available in the natural world in a given geographic area. Pigments were made from mineral, and sometimes vegetable, sources, with the most common colors being red, yellow, dark brown, and white. Paint colors sometimes symbolized the four cardinal points as well as the zenith and the nadir, with the specific colors for each point tribally determined. The colors themselves were believed to have special attributes or magical powers. By 1300 c.e., polychrome rather than monochrome paints were being used. Painting was done with a stylus made of bone or wood, with brushes made of animal hair, or simply with the fingers and hand.
Painting in contemporary Native American art uses modern materials and reflects both the preservation and adaptation of traditional subject matter and styles. Since the late 1800’s, painting has changed in purpose, reflecting European influence in materials, marketing, and attitude. The emphasis shifted to the individual artist from Indian painting as an ethnic or folk art, and artists began to sign their names to their work. As an art form, painting continues to be a primary means of expression for Native Americans and is pursued as a profession by many Indian painters.