Original Painting “Baby Burro and the Boss” [SOLD]

Begay is a living legend among Indian artists. His traditional flat, graphic art depicts life, animals and religion of the Navajo people. He has frequently been copied but never equaled. He attended the Santa Fe Indian School in 1934 where he completed his high school education. It was there that he met and studied under the well-known Dorothy Dunn, whose influence is still evident.

In this excellent painting, Begay depicts a Navajo girl walking her baby burro while her faithful companion dog accompanies her. The Navajo Yei God, in the form of a rainbow, provides protection for her. Rain falls in the far distance. Unlike so many of his contemporaries who use strong colors, Begay has an affinity for the softer pastel hues. This renders his paintings with a feeling of warmth and mellowness.

This painting is signed with his traditional English/Navajo names. It is not dated but was purchased in Gallup, NM in the 1980s. The painting is matted but not framed. It is shrink-wrapped for protection.

This painting is a good compliment to another Begay painting, our item number C3135H which is of a young Navajo girl feeding her sheep.