Lot 76: RUDOLF CRONAU (1855-1939)

Tatanka Iyotake, Sitting Bull
signed, inscribed and dated 'Rud. Cronau 25/10 1881 Fort Randall S. Dac.' (lower right) and inscribed 'Sitting Bull' (lower center)
graphite and ink wash on paper
15 1/2 x 12 1/4 in. (39.4 x 31.1 cm.)

Born in Solingen, Germany in 1855, Cronau studied at Dusseldorf Academy before moving to Leipzig to pursue a career as a newspaper writer and illustrator. On January 1, 1881, Cronau embarked on his first trip to American on an assignment to write and illustrate scenes of the American West for the German publication Die Gartenlaube.

Cronau visited Standing Rock Reservation and Fort Randall on this first trip west and recorded his meetings with important Indian dignitaries in a number of works including the present drawing. Through its fine and sympathetic attention to detail, Tatanka Iyotake, Sitting Bull is an important ethnographic portrait from early American history.