Friendly-Encounter

A Friendly Encounter was another step in my pursuit to master historical Western American subject matter. I continue to read historically based books that expand my knowledge of the early 1800's western American trappers and Indian Tribes. While most of the beaver trappers traveled in groups to thwart Indian attacks, some ventured out on their own. The Mountaineers or Mountain Men, were the first Europeans to encounter the Indian tribes of the northwestern mountain area. Some tribes were friendly, while others, like Blackfeet, Sioux and Arikara where more hostile, especially as more mountaineers invaded their territory. This painting depicts a Trapper and a Crow brave sharing information after a happenstance encounter. There were over 300 languages among tribes, so mountaineers often had to depend on a universal sign language. The brave, in my painting may be scouting for Buffalo, and the Trapper is interested in finding Beaver streams.