The artwork is based on an archival photograph of Sitting Bull, the revered chief of the Lakota Sioux. In Warhol’s version, the leader appears against a stark white background, wearing a crimson robe and feathered headdress. His face is rendered in pale blue tones, outlined in yellow and red, and traced with confident hand-drawn lines. He holds a ceremonial pipe with steady dignity. The composition emphasizes calm authority rather than action, presenting a moment of reflection instead of warfare. Through bold color and contour, Warhol infuses this historic figure with a sense of spectral wisdom.