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Warrior Society Dance

Attributed to Artist A (Henderson Ledger) Native American

ca. 1880

Not on view

Originally joined along the bottom in a ledger book, these two drawings depict a warrior society dance. The men dance in a circle or a continuous line, accompanied by singing and the resounding beat of hoop-shaped rattles. The works also present an early attempt to create authentic portraits: the individualized facial features, clothing, and ornaments on each figure would have made him instantly recognizable to his comrades. Together these warriors fought, hunted, and celebrated their victories.

Warrior Society Dance, Attributed to Artist A (Henderson Ledger) (Native American, Arapaho, active ca. 1870–90) , also identified as Horseback, Paper, graphite, colored pencil, Arapaho — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Warrior Society Dance, Attributed to Artist A (Henderson Ledger) (Native American, Arapaho, active ca. 1870–90) , also identified as Horseback, Paper, graphite, colored pencil, Arapaho

Warrior Society Dance, Attributed to Artist A (Henderson Ledger) (Native American, Arapaho, active ca. 1870–90) , also identified as Horseback, Paper, graphite, colored pencil, Arapaho

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Warrior Society Dance

Artist: Attributed to Artist A (Henderson Ledger) (Native American, Arapaho, active ca. 1870–90) , also identified as Horseback

Date: ca. 1880

Geography: United States, Oklahoma

Culture: Arapaho

Medium: Paper, graphite, colored pencil

Dimensions: Length: 7 3/4 in. (19.7 cm)
Width: 12 3/8 in. (31.4 cm)

Classification: Paper-Drawings

Credit Line: Private Collection

The Met

The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing at The Met

The Met's collection of art of the peoples of sub-Saharan Africa, the Pacific Islands, and North, Central, and South America comprises more than eleven thousand works of art of varied materials and types, representing diverse cultural traditions from as early as 3000 B.C.E. to the present.