Spearing Muskrats in Winter, 1849-1855, Seth Eastman, American, 1808–1875, 7 3/4 × 11 1/8 in. (19.69 × 28.26 cm) (image)8 7/8 × 11 1/8 in. (22.54 × 28.26 cm) (sheet), Watercolor, United States, 19th century, The muskrat heads peeking from the sack bode well for this hunt. A cold, white landscape still stretches ahead, but the echo of the hunters’ poses suggests a bond of camaraderie. Facing a dwindling supply of animals with desirable fur pelts, such as beaver, Native people hunted (and ate) muskrat, though its pelt earned far less at the trading company. As illustrated here, hunters stuck spears directly into muskrat dens, or axed through them. The handsome red hood, trimmed in beads and ribbon, kept snow off the hunter’s neck.
Keywords:
Spearing Muskrats, Winter, 1849-1855, Seth Eastman, American, 1808–1875, image, sheet, Watercolor, United States, 19th century, muskrat heads peeking, sack bode well, hunt, cold, white landscape, stretches ahead, echo, hunters' poses, bond, camaraderie, Facing, dwindling supply, animals, desirable fur pelts, beaver, Native people hunted, ate, muskrat, though, pelt earned far less, trading company, illustrated, hunters stuck spears directly, muskrat dens, axed, handsome red hood, trimmed, beads, ribbon, kept snow off, hunter's neck
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