Horse Nation
Linda Haukaas
Arts of the Americas
In this drawing each Lakota woman wears elaborate regalia and carries a fan and a pouch, items used to decorate and honor horses. Warriors and horses in battle are depicted on their clothing. According to the artist, Horse Nation “honors ‘tasunka wakan’ (the horse) for its importance for the Lakota People. The horse allowed them to increase their mobility for hunting, expand their territory, strengthen their ‘akicita’ (protective warrior societies), improve their economy, relieve their burdens, and, most importantly, gave women someone else to love.”
MEDIUM
Colored pencil and ink on late 1916 ledger paper
DATES
2010
DIMENSIONS
each sheet: 11 1/2 x 17 5/8 in. (29.2 x 44.7 cm)
(show scale)
MARKINGS
(Old paper page title Citizens Nat'l Bank entry dated 1916) pg 183 on horses facing right; pg. 196 on horses facing left.
SIGNATURE
Left side along red paper line, Horse Nation, Linda Haukaas
ACCESSION NUMBER
2011.6a-b
CREDIT LINE
Gift of the artist
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
This complimentary pair of drawings depicts horses galloping across the background-facing opposite directions on each drawing, with four women with their backs to the viewer watching the horses. Each woman wears elaborate regalia and carries fans and pouches, the type of decorations used to decorate and honor horses. The details on each of their clothing depict warriors and horses in battle .To paraphrase the artist: The purpose of the drawings, "Horse Nation," is to honor 'tasunka wakan,' the horse, for its importance for the Lakota, Nakota and Dakota Oyate, the People. The horse allowed them to increase their mobility for travel and hunting, expand their territory, advance their 'akicita' (warrior societies that protect them), improve their economy, relieve their burdens and,as Linda indicates "most importantly gave women someone else to love."
Linda Haukaas recreates 19th century style ledger art within a modern context with themes that particularly highlight women's roles in Plains society and with ceremonial and daily scenes that resonate today. She researches Museum collections and her own history to authenticate the historical references. Since in the past such representative drawings would have been done solely by the male artist she has broken new boundaries as a female ledger artist.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Linda Haukaas (Sicangu Lakota, born 1957). Horse Nation, 2010. Colored pencil and ink on late 1916 ledger paper, each sheet: 11 1/2 x 17 5/8 in. (29.2 x 44.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the artist, 2011.6a-b. © artist or artist's estate (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2011.6a_PS6.jpg)
IMAGE
component, 2011.6a_PS6.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2011
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
© Linda Haukaas
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