Ds-Nicholas de Grandmaison 38 Nicholas De Grandmaison

Here we observe a portrait study focusing on the upper torso and head of a man identified as Mortimer Eagle Tail Feathers, also known as Petok-sowatsis, a Blood Indian from Cardston, Alberta. The artist has rendered him in a style characterized by loose brushwork and a muted palette dominated by ochres, browns, and creams.
The subject’s gaze is direct, almost confrontational, conveying an impression of stoicism and quiet dignity. His face bears the marks of time and experience; lines are etched around his eyes and mouth, suggesting a life lived outdoors and perhaps one marked by hardship. A single long braid hangs down his back, adorned with feathers that suggest ceremonial significance or personal adornment. The artist has paid particular attention to the texture of his skin, capturing its weathered quality through subtle variations in tone and application of paint.
The background is indistinct, a wash of similar earth tones that allows the subject’s presence to dominate the composition. This lack of detail serves to isolate him, emphasizing his individuality while simultaneously hinting at a broader cultural context. The artists handling of light creates a sense of depth, highlighting the planes of the face and suggesting a source of illumination from above and slightly to the left.
Subtexts within this work revolve around themes of identity, representation, and the encounter between cultures. The portrait seems intended not merely as a likeness but as an attempt to capture something essential about the subject’s character – his resilience, his connection to tradition, and perhaps even a sense of guardedness or apprehension. The inclusion of both English and Blackfoot names suggests a negotiation of identity within a colonial context. The work implicitly raises questions about how Indigenous individuals were perceived and portrayed by outsiders during this period, while also offering a glimpse into the individual’s self-perception. The overall effect is one of respectful observation, albeit filtered through the artists own perspective and aesthetic choices.