Item Details
Them Old Sixtes [Children] [Folk Art] [Nativexploitation] - Letter from Young Boy with Drawings of American Indians.
[Western United States]? Presumed late 19th/early 20th century. Unique. Single sheet. A letter from a young son to his father, text reads: "Dear Daddy! How are you, we are all fine. I made this picture on the other side for you, it is entitled THEM OLD SIXTES. It is supposed to be right after the men got back from the hunt that acount [sic] for so many beging [sic] outside. I am not going to write you a long letter because you a just got one." Judging from the voice and illustration, the young son is writing to his father from a distance. He seems to be illustrating a romanticized notion from children's adventure books about "cowboys and Indians" and the Great Plains West. The regalia of the indigenous on horseback in the drawing are reminiscent of Plains Indians; Blackfoot, Cheyene, Kiowa, Apache, Crow, and Lakota, headresses with period weapons, i.e. tomahawks, weapons. The stereotype is also reflected in films beginning in the 1940s and 1950s black and white Westerns. The image of the American Indian was severely exploited in advertising, as tales of migration to the West started in the late 19th century. The style of the fort depicted in the drawing also represents the presence of US Cavalry expanding West into indigenous territories, thus a child's vision of heroism. An interesting piece of children's folk art, as well as, a reflection of popular culture's depiction of indigenous people and 'nativexploitation' as an influence on children's adventure tales and spins of the American West. Very Good+. Smoothed out folds, with four closed tears, no impact on image or text, faint toning, else bright and clean. Torn adhesive sticker (removed). Handwritten text and pencil illustrations on thin onion skin type paper. Signed by the author at lower right corner. Watermark (eagle). Item #12146
Price: $150.00