“Thomas Smith/ Indian War-dance, and all the Indian/ very nice time” (Artist inscription, verso)

“This drawing shows the Gros Ventre (Hidatsa) version of the Grass Dance, a dance originally military in character, but by the time this drawing was done, mostly social in nature. Much of the distinctive regalia of the Grass Dance is represented. A crow belt (feather bustle) is worn by the third figure from the left. A pointed stick for serving the ceremonial food eaten at the occasion is carried by the second figure from the left. The three figures on the right are seated around a horizontal drum that is suspended from four upright posts. Four of the figures (two dancers and two drummers) wear roach headdresses of dyed deer hair.” (p.44)

William S. Wierzbowski and Helen M. Mangelsdorf in Images of a Vanished Life: Plains Indian Drawing from the Collection of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 1985.