Psíhdjä-Sáhpa, Yankton Sioux Man

Description

This Yankton man was a frequent visitor at Fort Clark in January of 1834. He was curious about Maximilian and Bodmer, but did not want to be painted. Síh-Chidä, a comrade, persuaded Psíhdjä-Sáhpa to let his portrait be made. This was no easy task for Bodmer, for it was so cold at the fort that the artist's brush and colors kept freezing solid and had to be constantly thawed with hot water. Bear paws are painted on this young warrior's chest, and his ornaments include beaded hairbows, strings of dentalium shells and beads, and brass bangles. Anxious for battle honors, he attempted to persuade his Mandan friends to join him and other Yankton warriors in a raid on mutual enemies, but the Mandans declined. Psíhdjä-Sáhpa's portrait appears in Tableau 12 of the aquatint atlas.