McKenney and Hall, 1836-1844 - POW-A-SHEEK. A FOX CHIEF. - ca. 1838 - T-Shirt

This hand-colored lithograph presents a bust-length portrait of Pow-a-sheek, a Fox (Meskwaki) chief, framed as a formal, upright plate.

Visual Elements & Composition

Cream dominates the plate, with warm skin tones and touches of vermilion red carrying the eye across the figure. Black defines the feather tips, the fur mantle over the shoulder and the fine lines of the portrait, while a small amount of olive green adds quiet contrast. The chief fills a vertical rectangle, facing the viewer with a bundle of arrows held in his hand. A red-dyed feather headdress, a beaded multi-strand necklace and a red sash at the waist give the composition its structure. The printed lettering reads "POW-A-SHEEK" and "A FOX CHIEF," with the publisher line "PUBLISHED BY F.W. GREENOUGH, PHILAD'A" below.

Meaning & Symbolism

The portrait records a leader who worked to protect his people's interests while the United States pressed for land cession during the 1830s. The arrows and the regalia signal his standing as a chief, and the steady, direct gaze gives the image its dignity. It was published in History of the Indian Tribes of North America by Thomas L. McKenney and James Hall, a project that preserved likenesses of Native leaders through lithography, drawing largely on oil paintings commissioned by the U.S. government. The series stands as a document of its era, and its colonial framing is part of the story the plate tells.

Made for the Wearer

A portrait this detailed rewards a close look, and a chest-level print keeps the chief's face, headdress and necklace in clear view as the wearer moves. The vertical plate suits the shape of a tee, so the cream field and the central figure sit naturally on the body. Wearing this piece carries the record of Pow-a-sheek's time into everyday life.