Wash-ka-mon-ya, Fast Dancer, a Warrior

George Catlin, born Wilkes-Barre, PA 1796-died Jersey City, NJ 1872 · 1844-1845

Fast Dancer was among a group of Iowa warriors and their families who joined George Catlin in London in the 1840s, where the artist had traveled to exhibit and promote his Indian Gallery. The Iowa arrived in London fully equipped with clothing, domestic implements, weapons, canoes, and plenty of face paint. The handprints on Fast Dancer’s chin and cheeks probably signify that he had killed an enemy in hand-to-hand combat.