Original Painting of Taos Pueblo Street Scene [R]

Albert Lujan was one of three Taos Pueblo Indians who painted in the European style rather than in the two-dimensional style popular at the other pueblos. He sold his paintings, from about 1915 until his death in 1948, directly to the tourists visiting Taos Pueblo.

He specialized in painting the multi-storied buildings at the pueblo, usually devoid of people. Typically, these views included one of the main pueblo houses, or an isolated adobe residence, each framed by beehive ovens, majestic mountains, a beautiful blue sky, and, occasionally, a ristra of chili.

Recently, an exhibit of some 40 works was on display at the Harwood Museum in Taos, featuring the work of Albert Lujan, Albert Looking Elk Martinez, and Juan Mirabal (the three artists in the early 20th century who painted in the European style). There also is an excellent article on these three artists in New Mexico Magazine, January 2003.

This particular painting is unusual in that there is a female figure walking down the road. He did not often put people in his paintings. It is signed Albert Lujan and is an uncommon and quite desirable addition to an already fantastic example of Lujan