"Catalog and exhibition both begin with a prologue that looks critically at the cliche images that still influence the public conception of North American Indians. The less-well-known German contribution to Indian cliches, from Karl May's Winnetou to Indian-hobbyism, receives prominent treatment here.

After this introduction comes the main body of the exhibition and catalog, which shows that the best way to understand the simple-mindedness of Indian cliches is to view the great variety of Indian lifestyles and their material products.".

"Both exhibition and catalog culminate with a look at the present: Modern Indian art demonstrates that Indians are no mythical beings of the past. They belong to peoples who, despite a 500-year history of persecution and expulsion, have survived and present their rich culture heritage with pride. In their modern paintings they reflect these experiences, enliven traditional forms with new content and build a bridge to the Indian present, their lives on reservations and in the cities."--BOOK JACKET.