The painting "Warrior's Tale" tells the story of this Sioux warrior's past accomplishments through the markings and decorations on both the warrior and his horse.
The stick he is holding is a coup stick, usually made from a willow. The three stripes on the eagle feather in his hair, the three red stripes on his arm and the three stripes on the horses leg indicate that he has counted coup three times. The four yellow stripes on his arms and the hoofprints on his leggings and on the horses leg indicate that he has stolen four horses. The hand print on the horse shows that he has killed one enemy in hand combat. The notch in his feather indicates he has either scalped his enemy or cut his enemies throat. The square on the horses head means this warrior is or has been the leader of a raiding party. On his shoulder is a wound circled in black and surrounded with solar radiating lines which are prayers for the warm healing that comes from the sun. The spots on the horse are society marks and correspond with the spots painted on the warrior's lodge. The horses ears have been notched indicating that it has been specially trained for war or hunting.
