Native American Family on Horseback with a Travois by Carl Sweezy [SOLD]

Sweezy, being an Arapahoe Indian, painted scenes with which he was familiar. Here, he has illustrated a Plains Indian family travelling cross country on horseback pulling a travois with their personal items. The baby is snuggled safely in a beautifully beaded cradleboard.

The travois was a frame used by Plains Indians to drag loads over land. The basic construction consisted of a platform mounted on two long poles. It was generally dragged behind a horse. Although more primitive than wheel-based forms of transport, it was more practical on the type of territory where the travois was used.

The painting is signed in lower right but is not dated. It appears to be in original excellent condition.