How did Haida, Tlingit, and Tsimshian artistic styles differ?

The artistic traditions of the Haida, Tsimshian, and Tlingit peoples of the northern Northwest Coast share a foundation in low-relief carving and painting, primarily used to depict hereditary clan crests. While they share these cultural roots, their specific stylistic approaches differ in execution:1

• Haida: Their art is characterized by a massive quality, featuring highly conventionalized and balanced elements.1
• Tsimshian: This style is distinguished by an intensive effort to fill all available space. Artists utilized "filler" elements, such as miniature figures and eye designs, to ensure no open space remained within or between the primary motifs.1
• Tlingit: Their artistic style is described as slightly less conventionalized than that of their neighbors, notably utilizing fewer filler elements in their compositions.1

These groups all utilized the environment to create elaborate totem poles and decorated utilitarian objects, reflecting a shared emphasis on symmetry and meticulous finish.12