Fritz Scholder

Hollywood Indian

The spectacularized drama featured in this painting mirrors stereotypical Hollywood depictions of Native peoples. As a Luiseño man, these popular tropes impacted Fritz Scholder, but he also recognized such fantasies appealed to the art market. Scholder used painting as an exaggerated visual response to the prejudices endorsed by movies.

Scholder incorporates an abnormal color palette and abstracted forms that challenge the perceived truth of these harmful stereotypes. The deep shade of red running down the figure’s right arm contrasts sharply against his purple body, blue breastplate, and vibrant green eyes. The black paint further distorts the face, creating a general impression of a skull. Through these elements, Scholder effectively brings into question what is real in Native representation.