Penn's Treaty with the Indians

"Penn's Treaty with the Indians" by Edward Hicks (1845) is a notable example of a Naïve art (primitivism) style, capturing the 1682 encounter between William Penn and Lenape chief Tamanend under a large elm tree near Shackamaxon. Hicks’s painting portrays this historic event as a peaceful and harmonious agreement, emphasizing themes of fairness and friendship. Although reminiscent of a Religious painting in its idealized vision, the work reflects a simple, honest approach typical of American folk art, highlighting moral virtue and the significance of Native-American and colonial relations.