Zuni Pueblo Watercolor of Three Katsinas [SOLD]

This painting of three Zuni Katsinas represents participants from three different Zuni ceremonies.  The far left Katsina is Saiyatasha—Rain Priest of the North, from the Shalako Ceremony.  The middle Katsina is Mukikwe—Hopi Harvest Katsina from the Mukikwe Dance.  The far right Katsina is Kumanshi Peyenekwe—Comanche Speaking Person from the Kumanshi Dance.

The painting is watercolor on paper and does not have the name of the artist.  We do not regularly accept unsigned paintings as art collectors prefer those signed by an artist.  We, as collectors, have no stigma against unsigned pueblo pottery and relish it for its beauty without second thoughts as to who the artist was, but we do not accord the same respect to unsigned paintings on paper.

This painting was obviously painted by a member of the Zuni Pueblo as no other person, without familiarity with Zuni Katsinas, could possibly have painted the three dancers in such fine detail without intimate knowledge of those Katsinas.  We accept this painting as having been executed by a Native American artist from Zuni Pueblo, thus it falls within our venue of Native paintings.

The intricate detail of each of the Katsinas is an exceptional accomplishment with watercolor paints.  The frequent change in colors adjoining other colors without bleeding into each other is evidence of an expert watercolorist.  The overall execution of the painting is above average, the colors are still vibrant, and the condition is very good.

Condition: very good condition with a few drops of whiteout painted over stains on the background paper which are not distracting.

Provenance: from the collection of a family from Pennsylvania

Reference and Recommended Reading:  Kachinas of the Zuni by Barton Wright with original paintings by Duane Dishta