Another Excellent Z.S. Liang Painting And The Story Behind It
Howdy folks and greetings from the Great Plains of North Texas where we are in our 2nd week of consecutive 100+ degree temperatures. Or 40+C degree temps. It's no problem though, we can handle the heat.
I wanted to share another fine painting by one of our best Western painters, the great Z.S. Liang who is Chinese but moved to the United States in the 1980's and discovered his love and gift of painting the American Indian.
This painting is called "Overlooking Two Medicine River, 1806" and like many of his paintings there is a story behind it.
The Lewis and Clark Expedition is the first official mapping and recording trip into the Western Territories which was funded by the federal government.
The team started in St. Louis, Missouri and headed West. It took them 2 years to make it to the coast of California. They only had one deadly encounter with Indians and that was when they met with some Blackfeet in what is now Montana.
The first treaty proposal of the Western territories
Lewis told them about a federal government plan that would form a peace treaty among the Western tribes and that the Shoshone and Nez Pearce were already signed up and on board.
In exchange, the government promised to furnish them with guns and other supplies.
Doesn't that sound like a typical government "peace" plan? lol.
Well, the Blackfeet were immediately alarmed at this news so during the night they tried to steal the expedition's guns and a fight broke out in which 2 of the Blackfeet were killed.
The Blackfeet did not take kindly to trespassers
From then on they were on high alert.. guarding their territory and Liang's painting gives us a scene of some Blackfeet warriors standing watch.
They're looking down at the Two Medicine River, the location of the encounter with the Lewis and Clark Expedition force.
I love this painting because it beautifully captures the sweeping expanse of the western landscape as well as accurately portraying the warriors.
"Overlooking Two Medicine River, 1806"
Thanks for reading folks, God bless you all!
-jonboy
Texas
the gentleman redneck
This is a beautiful painting. It makes me think of how long native Americans like the Blackfeet had existed before the Europeans invaded their lands and changed every aspect of their lives. They could not have imagined what they were in for.
Howdy sir free-reign! Yes his paintings are so real that it's like looking at a photograph of the scene in 1806 and their existence then before the Europeans destroyed the tribes. Great point and thanks for commenting!
Beautiful painting indeed and other story of corrupted government!
lol! howdy Miss Lena! I'm glad you like that painting, I didn't expect to uncover another idiotic plan by the government but there it was! It looks like they were furnishing the tribes with guns so they would use them on each other, there were no whites around at that time.
Sadly, they are still doing that, but elsewhere!!!
Yes I think we are the biggest arms dealer in the world, or one of the biggest. I don't like that at all.
Just one of the reasons why I am proud to be Canadian, because we are not, lol.
What are the other reasons Miss Lena, do you have any off the top of your head? The winters are too dang long and cold I know that!
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Hi janton, it is such a gift to be able to paint like Z.S. Liang, they are so life like. Beautiful.
Howdy angiemitchell! thanks so much, I totally agree!
Do you have a print of one Liang's work?
Howdy today angiemitchell! Not yet but I will!
Another nice one by Z.S.Liang
Howdy today sir Vincent! I agree, did you ever try to paint people? I can't remember what type of paintings you did, they were landscapes and nature weren't they? I think people would be super hard to paint.
Yes, my paintings were all landscapes. I did some pencil portraits. People are very difficult to paint, which is why I didn't attempt to paint people.
Howdy today sir Vincent! Are you saying you didn't try to paint people because you're too lazy?
No, too difficult! 😊
@janton, happy Sunday! lucky you, 40 Deg, in Dubai it is 50 plus, scorching heat 🔥
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I don't mind our temperatures at all! lol...THAT heat over there would take some getting used to, or maybe I'd never get used to it! Are you okay with it, you can handle it? I bet the air conditioning companies make alot of money there.
I'm used to it, that's why schools are closed here during peak summer, July and August, September, is tolerable. As for the Aircon business, yes, they make alot of money. You cannot live here without an aircon.
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Oh, that's a very good reason to close! Very interesting, thank you clitadias and stay cool!
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Howdy Jonboy!
What, no redneck joke!? I think this is the first blog you haven't had a joke at the end of it HA HA.
Interesting map. When I was still living in Oregon I went to Fort Clatsop at the mouth of Columbia River. They have a small Lewis and Clark museum there. If you walk out to the Pacific you can see what is left of the Peter Iredale, a ship that wrecked off the coast in 1906.
Oh very interesting rainbowman! I got out of the habit of not posting a joke during my last Old West series because several people said it wasn't appropiate to be joking around right after such a serious story. Anyway I kind of agreed and got lazy and stopped them but I'll probably start back up again.
That must have been a big ship to still be there since 1906!
Honestly there isn't much left HA HA. All you can see is what is left of the iron hull sticking out of the sand that hasn't eroded away yet.
oh ok, I thought maybe it was a big tourist attaction or something! lol. something that scuba divers liked to explore.
Howdy Sir @janton, it seems that all of the governments suck at their treaties.
No wonder the saying arose; "never trust a politician"
That is indeed another masterpiece painting right there.
Blessings!
Howdy sir papilloncharity! I'm so glad you like the painting, it's another masterpiece and it's like going back in time and looking at them at that moment.
Yeah, that plan of giving the different tribes guns, probably so they would use them on each other! Another unbelievable government program.
Wonderful painting! Thanks for telling the story behind it, too!
Howdy thekittygirl! I agree, looking at one of Liang's paintings is like opening up a window back through time. Thanks so much for commenting, God bless you!