McKenney and Hall, 1836-1844 - WA-NA-TA. GRAND CHIEF OF THE SIOUX, from History of the Indian Tribes of North - ca. 1838 - T-Shirt

This hand-colored lithograph shows Wa-Na-Ta, a Yanktonai Sioux leader, standing full length in ceremonial dress with a long rifle held across his body.

Visual Elements & Composition

The figure fills a tall vertical frame, with a cream ground that dominates the print and dark brown tones defining the headdress, robe and rifle. Small touches of red appear in the dyed hair and the fringe of the fur robe, while tan and grey-white pick out the beaded moccasins and leggings. A small shrub sits on grassy ground at his feet. Beneath the figure, a rectangular plate carries the centered caption WA-NA-TA and GRAND CHIEF OF THE SIOUX., with the publisher line PUBLISHED BY F.W. GREENOUGH, PHILAD'A below.

Meaning & Symbolism

The formal attire and the rifle signal Wa-Na-Ta's standing as a political and military leader who dealt directly with American officials and European traders. He was a major figure in the Upper Mississippi region in the early nineteenth century, and the portrait records a moment when traditional sovereignty was under growing pressure from expanding American territory. The print comes from History of the Indian Tribes of North America, a project led by Thomas L. McKenney, Superintendent of Indian Trade, and James Hall to document the faces and biographies of Indigenous leaders for future generations.

Where the Portrait Meets the Tee

A portrait like this is built to be seen at close range, and a tee puts it on the chest where the caption and figure read clearly as you move. The vertical composition suits the shape of a shirt, and the full-length figure keeps the caption and dress detail in view, so the design carries the same record of Wa-Na-Ta's presence that the original plate was made to hold.