Two Women Dancers in Different Clothing Surrounded by Male Dancers in Costume (recto); Five Great Artists: Callot, Van-Dyck, Murillo, Poussin, Rubens (verso)
Two Women Dancers in Different Clothing Surrounded by Male Dancers in Costume (recto); Five Great Artists: Callot, Van-Dyck, Murillo, Poussin, Rubens (verso)
Abstract
The dancers in the center of this drawing are women, and the men around them wear yellow bill loon headdresses. They are likely visitors to Kingigan from another village, possibly from the North Slope where this kind of headdress is still worn, who have come to participate in the festival. The dance being shown may be an invitational dance, or the "Challenging Song" dance, as it is not part of the Wolf-Eagle Dance, and it could occur during the course of a Messenger Feast as a warm up.
Accession Number
C00.1483.308
Format
drawings
Culture
Inupiaq
Genre
Figures (representations)
Origin Information
Alaska, United States
Date
1890s
Physical Description
1 drawing ; 6 3/8 x 9 3/8 in. (16 x 23.7 cm)
Note (Medium/support)
Pencil, red and brown ink and wash on paper (recto)
Note (Ownership)
The Bush Collection of Religion and Culture
Note
This drawing is part of a set made by the Inupiat people to document their ritual traditions. They likely were commissioned by missionaries, and the drawings were made on the backs of prints derived from children's books and educational manuals.