Smithsonian American Art Museum
Om-pah-tón-ga, Big Elk, a Famous Warrior
George Catlin, born Wilkes-Barre, PA 1796-died Jersey City, NJ 1872 · 1832
A warrior of the Omaha tribe, Big Elk sat for his portrait, according to George Catlin, “with his tomahawk in his hand, and face painted black, for war.” Catlin probably painted this image at Fort Leavenworth (in today’s Kansas) in 1832. Big Elk also sat for artist Charles Bird King (1785-1862) some years earlier in Washington. (Catlin, Letters and Notes, vol. 2, no. 34, 1841; reprint 1973)
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