Raven Halibut Hook James Michels Butterfly is an increasingly prevalent

Butterfly is an increasingly prevalent figure in contemporary Northwest Coast art

This painting

Circa 1940 - 1950

the two works read quite differently

dorsal fin

Raven Halibut Hook James Michels Butterfly is an increasingly prevalentIndigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are related to crest symbols. Crests have been passed down through families and have varying meanings depending on the context and association with a nation, clan, or family. The figures depicted in contemporary Northwest Coast Indigenous artwork also have varying meanings but there are some common characteristics from a range of sources, including oral