Horse Nation

Item number 2011.6a-b from the Brooklyn Museum.

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Data
Data Source

This information was automatically generated from data provided by Brooklyn Museum. It has been standardized to aid in finding and grouping information within the RRN. Accuracy and meaning should be verified from the Data Source tab.

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 She researches Museum collections and her own history to authenticate the historical references.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.

Credit Line

Gift of the artist

Label

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.”

Signed

Left side along red paper line, Horse Nation, Linda Haukaas

Item History

Made by Linda Haukaas during 2010

What

Name: Horse Nation
Identification Number: 2011.6a-b
Type of Item: horse
Material: colored pencil and ink on late 1916 ledger paper
Measurements: “each sheet: 11 1/2 x 17 5/8 in. (29.2 x 44.7 cm)” ?

Where

Holding Institution: Brooklyn Museum

Who

Creator: Linda Haukaas

When

Creation Date: during 2010

Other

Classification: Drawing

This data has been provided to the RRN by the Brooklyn Museum. We've used it to provide the information on the Data tab.

Accession Number

2011.6a-b

Title

Horse Nation

Medium

Colored pencil and ink on late 1916 ledger paper

Object Date

2010 to 2010

Artist

Linda Haukaas

Dimensions

each sheet: 11 1/2 x 17 5/8 in. (29.2 x 44.7 cm)

Classification

Drawing

Description

Credit Line

Gift of the artist

Label

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, <i>Horse Nation</i> “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.”