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Difficulty: MediumEastern Woodlands Bandolier Bags and Plains Painted Elk Hides

Plains artists traditionally observed a gender-based division of labor in which men and women worked with different styles and media. The painted elk hide attributed to Cotsiogo (Cadzi Cody) reflects this traditional division of labor in which of the following ways?

  1. It features narrative scenes of hunts and ceremonies painted by a man.Answer
  2. B
    It features curvilinear floral motifs beaded by a woman.
  3. C
    It is constructed as a ceremonial shoulder pouch by a woman.
  4. D
    It functions as a sacred object created by a shaman for hunting magic.

Answer

It features narrative scenes of hunts and ceremonies painted by a man.
In Plains Indian communities, a gender-based division of labor dictated artistic styles and formats. Men painted narrative, representational, and historical scenes (such as battles, buffalo hunts, and tribal ceremonies) on hides, whereas women decorated hides and clothing with abstract geometric designs. The painted elk hide by Cotsiogo (Cadzi Cody) depicts a buffalo hunt and the Sun Dance, which aligns with the male tradition of narrative painting.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the media and style of the object (painted elk hide) and identify its creator, Cotsiogo (Cadzi Cody).
The object is a painted hide featuring figurative representations of horses, buffalo, dancers, and teepees, created by a male Shoshone artist.
Identifying the artist's gender and the representational style is necessary to connect the object to traditional artistic divisions.
2
Recall the traditional division of labor by gender in Plains Indian art.
Plains men painted narrative and historical scenes on hides, while Plains women decorated objects with abstract geometric designs or quillwork/beadwork.
Comparing the characteristics of the work with Plains cultural practices determines how it aligns with traditional roles.
3
Select the option that correctly describes Cotsiogo's role and the hide's subject matter in the context of this division.
Cotsiogo, as a man, painted narrative scenes of hunts and ceremonies, which aligns with the traditional male role.
This confirms why the narrative painted by a man is the correct choice.

Key Concept

Gender roles and stylistic divisions in Plains Indian art
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Eastern Woodlands Bandolier Bags and Plains Painted Elk Hides

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