After Leloir, Native American Camp Scene with Trapper and Buffalo Hunters, 1845, Lithograph

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Title: Native American Camp Scene – Trapper and Buffalo Hunters, c.1845 : This finely hand-colored lithograph, titled “Amérique du Nord … Read more Title: Native American Camp Scene – Trapper and Buffalo Hunters, c.1845 : This finely hand-colored lithograph, titled “Amérique du Nord – États-Unis,” originates from Le Monde en Estampes: Types et Costumes des Principaux Peuples de l’Univers, published in Paris around 1845–1850 by Amédée Bedelet. Drawn by Leloir, lithographed by J. Bocquin, and printed by Lemercier, this series is celebrated for its masterful combination of ethnographic illustration and Romantic artistry, portraying the diverse cultures of the world with vivid imagination and elegant execution. This plate depicts a classic 19th-century frontier encounter between Native Americans and a European trappeur (trapper) in the American West. In the center, the trapper, dressed in a blue hunting coat, fur cap, and red neckerchief, negotiates with a Native American chief, who holds a buffalo hide decorated with symbolic motifs. The exchange symbolizes the meeting of two worlds—European fur traders and the Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains—at a time when such contact was transforming both societies. To the right, two additional Native Americans are shown before their camp, with conical tipis rising behind them. One man, wrapped in a beige blanket adorned with red and blue stripes, stands calmly, while another sits at the foreground, his muscular form partially covered by a fur robe, tomahawk resting at his side. His alert gaze and relaxed yet powerful posture evoke both pride and vigilance. In the background, a dynamic hunting scene unfolds as *Indiens chassant le bison* (Indians hunting buffalo) gallop across a river plain, their figures silhouetted against distant hills—capturing the freedom and skill of the Plains tribes. The scene exemplifies mid-19th-century European fascination with the American frontier and its Indigenous peoples. Artists like Leloir and Bocquin presented Native Americans with a blend of ethnographic curiosity and Romantic idealization, emphasizing their bravery, dignity, and connection to nature. The coloring is beautifully executed, with naturalistic tones of ochre, blue, and brown, while Lemercier’s lithographic precision gives clarity and softness to the figures and landscape alike. Condition report: Very good impression with fresh, well-preserved coloring. Minor foxing in margins; image area clean and bright. Wide borders intact. Framing tips: Display with a warm cream or parchment mat and a natural oak or walnut frame. A narrow inner mat in sienna or muted red can highlight the earthy tones of the buffalo hide and frontier attire. Technique: Hand-colored lithograph Maker: J. Bocquin after Leloir, printed by Lemercier, Paris, circa 1845 See less