Original Hopi Pueblo Painting of Malo Katsinas by Fred Kabotie [SOLD]

“In 1906, Kabotie’s family, seeking to escape the efforts of the Government to force them to abandon their customs, joined other people of old Oraibi (Village) and established Hotevilla (Village). Eventually they were forced to return to Oraibi and Shungopavi, where, in 1913, the children were placed in schools for the first time. Later, as a disciplinary measure, Kabotie was sent to Santa Fe Indian School. There he was encouraged by Mr. and Mrs. DeHuff to develop his artistic talents. Since 1920, his work and his name have usually appeared wherever Indian art is mentioned. His work as an educator prevented him from painting extensively since 1959.”
— Snodgrass, 1968

In this painting, Kabotie presents the Malo Katsinas and the Takursh Mana Katsinas as they would appear in a dance. According to Barton Wright, “Around the turn of the century, this was one of the most popular kachinas. He was danced as a Niman Kachina along with Hemis, Angak’china and Kuwan Heheya on First Mesa and he appeared in regular kachina dances on the other two mesas. He usually appears with Takursh Mana as his sister, dancing in a separate line alongside of him. He is sometimes referred to as the Stick Kachina because of the staff he carries in his left hand.”
— Wright, 1973.

This is an extraordinary work by Kabotie. The detail of each individual is beyond comprehension. The painting probably dates to circa 1930 and the vivid colors are still as strong as when first applied to the paper. The painting has probably been packed away for decades. There are a few ripples in lower right of the paper but out of the area of the image.