Point and Line: Defining the Figure


Oscar Howe (Yanktonai Dakota, 1915–1983), “War Dancer,” 1966; casein on board; 25.5” x 20”. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri; Gift of the Association on American Indian Affairs, New York City, New York, 78-16.


Fracturing Space Howe’s mature compositional approach involved transforming subjects and backgrounds into a series of fractured planes using two-dimensional, flat sur- faces to represent a three-dimensional space. Much to his frustration, a perva- sive narrative emerged in the scholarship


40 SPRING 2022 AMERICAN INDIAN


asserting that his artwork was influenced by cubism. While Howe was thoroughly educated in European and American art traditions of the 20th century, he insisted that his art in both form and execution was deeply rooted in Dakota composi- tional and philosophical traditions.


IMAGE COURTESY OF THE NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM OF ART MEDIA SERVICES


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52