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Primary sourcePhotograph1885

Sitting Bull Portrait by William Notman

William Notman · 1885

A photographic portrait of Sitting Bull taken in 1885 during his stay in Montreal, showing him in profile wearing feathers and a beaded vest.

This 1885 photograph shows Sitting Bull himself, taken during his stay in Montreal.

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Colored reproduction card labeled 'Chief Sitting Bull Sioux' showing a man in profile with long braids, two feathers in his hair, a red neckerchief, and a beaded vest with geometric and floral designs.
William Notman, portrait of Sitting Bull, 1885. Museum of Ethnography, Sweden.

About this source

What it is

This is a photograph of Sitting Bull taken in 1885 by the photographer William Notman, during Sitting Bull's time in Montreal. It is now held by the Museum of Ethnography in Sweden.

Why it matters

By 1885, Sitting Bull had become widely known outside Lakota communities, and photographers were eager to capture his image. This portrait shows how he was presented to the public at the time, dressed in items that marked his status, including feathers and a beaded vest with geometric and floral patterns.

Look closer

  • What does the way Sitting Bull is dressed and posed tell you about how photographers wanted him to be seen?
  • Why might a photographer in 1885 want to photograph a famous Lakota leader?
  • What is missing from this image that you would want to know about Sitting Bull's life?

This photograph is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Sitting Bull (Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake) on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Signature of Sitting Bull

Sitting Bull

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