Checkpoint: Visual Literacy Nicole Mills Art 101 July 7, 2011

Although Howling Wolfs drawing is viewed as naively executed by the standards of Western art, I believe that his record of the treatysigning event is more honest and accurate than John Taylors illustration because his upbringing was significantly different. Howling Wolf was engaged in a ledger book drawing as a way to document the events that took place in detail. He shows much more detail than the illustration rendered by the other artist. In addition, Howling Wolf created more decorative drawings that portrayed a strong sense of balance, symmetry, and rhythm. His work Treaty Signing at Medicine Lodge Creek Depicts the signing of the peace treaty in October 1867 between several Native American Tribes and the U.S. government. Howling Wolf illustrates very specific details such as the womens braided hair, the grove where the treaty was a negotiated, identifiable garment, and the intersection of Elm Creek and Medicine Lodge Creek. His depiction of the treaty signing shows that the event was dominated by woman, which is opposite of John Taylors illustration. I believe that John Taylor deliberately omitted the native women who were present at the signing of the treaty that day. I believe that he felt that the native women did not play a significant role in the signing of the treaty. This is opposite of Howling Wolfs rendering. I believe that John Taylors decision was based on cultural bias because he did include one woman, Mrs. Margaret Adams the interpreter for the Arapaho. She was probably thought to play a more significant role by John Taylor because she was the daughter of a French-Canadian man and an object of great fascination to the journalists present. Therefore, I believe that John Taylor chose to only include those who he thought were important to the event. Although John Taylor created a beautiful depiction of the events that occurred October day, his illustration was far less accurate.