Coo-coo-coo, The Owl, an Aged Chief

George Catlin, born Wilkes-Barre, PA 1796-died Jersey City, NJ 1872 · 1836

George Catlin described Menominee chief Coo-coo-coo as a “very aged and emaciated chief, whom I painted at Green Bay, in Fort Howard. He had been a distinguished man, but now in his dotage, being more than 100 years old---and a great pet of the surgeon and officers of the post.” This portrait was painted in 1836 when Catlin stopped at Green Bay on his way to the Pipestone Quarry. (Truettner, The Natural Man Observed, 1979)