Tsistsistas (Cheyenne) / Counting Coup / about 1880

Tsistsistas (Cheyenne)
Counting Coup
about 1880
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Creator Nationality: North American; Native American; Cheyenne
Creator Name-CRT: Tsistsistas (Cheyenne)
Creator Name: Big Cloud
Creator Qualifier: Attributed to
Creator Role: painter
Creator Name-CRT: attributed to Big Cloud
Title: Counting Coup
View: front
Creation Start Date: 1870
Creation End Date: 1890
Creation Date: about 1880
Creation Place: North America, United States
Object Type: Paintings
Materials and Techniques: graphite, colored pencil on ruled paper
Dimensions: H.7-11/16 x W.12-5/16 in. (sheet)
AMICA Contributor: The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Owner Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
ID Number: 89.41
Credit Line: Gift of Jud and Lisa Dayton
Rights: http://www.artsmia.org/restrictions.html
Context:

When the buffalo and other large game animals became scarce on the plains, Plains Indian warrior-artists transferred their drawing skills from animal hides to paper. Plains men found new artistic freedom by using sketchbooks or ledger books for their drawings. They continued to depict their battle exploits, but also started to incorporate domestic scenes.

In this drawing, Big Cloud illustrates a battle exploit where a warrior counts coup on the enemy. Following the footprints, the warrior dismounts and goes into the house where he touches the enemy, or counts coup; the highest form of honor in Plains warfare. The warrior first counts coup on the two men, shown by the horse quirt on top of their heads, he then counts coup on the woman with his bow.

Big Cloud has taken full advantage of drawing on paper using colored pencils by providing important details such as landscape, his personal adornments, and particular elements of his enemy's clothing.

AMICA ID: MIA_.89.41
Component Measured: sheet
Measurement Unit: in
AMICA Library Year: 1998
Media Metadata Rights: ?The Minneapolis Institute of Arts

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