Wée-ke-rú-law, He Who Exchanges

George Catlin, born Wilkes-Barre, PA 1796-died Jersey City, NJ 1872 · 1832

This portrait reflects George Catlin’s respect for the Native Americans who posed for him. He Who Exchanges looked directly at Catlin while the painter worked to capture his likeness. The figure’s pose reflects the symbolic importance of the effigy pipe he holds in his hand. Catlin had been given a similar pipe by a Pawnee, who explained that the seated figure on the pipe was his own portrait and that it would enable him to look a white man in the face. (Gurney and Heyman, eds., George Catlin and His Indian Gallery, 2002)