Wrapped in a blanket, shoulders squared, an American Indian figure gazes forward. The title of Calder’s bronze, An American Stoic, explains the man’s stern demeanor. A stoic, the epitome of self-control, is someone free from passion, unmoved by joy or grief, and able to quietly endure.

The silent, stone-faced American Indian was a common image in art and popular culture at the turn of the century. But this stereotype did not reflect reality. Native peoples were vocal civic participants during Calder’s lifetime. They debated and advocated for a range of reforms—as they continue to do today—including tribal land ownership and political self-determination.