Answer:
The painting you are referring to is "The Landing of Columbus" by John Vanderlyn. In the painting, Columbus and his men are depicted as standing upright with their heads held high, with confident and triumphant expressions on their faces. They are also shown holding weapons and armor, which further suggests a sense of power and superiority.
In contrast, the American Indians are depicted as being much smaller in size and are shown with more subdued expressions and gestures. They are also shown with less clothing and without weapons, which further emphasizes the power imbalance between the two groups.
It is likely that the artist, John Vanderlyn, chose this depiction in order to convey the idea that Columbus and his men were brave and heroic explorers who were bringing civilization and enlightenment to the "savages" of the New World.
This narrative was very popular in the 1800s, when the painting was created, as it fit with the prevailing idea of European superiority and the "white man's burden" to civilize and educate the indigenous peoples of the Americas.