Original Painting of a Pueblo Eagle Dance [SOLD]

Oqwa Pi is important in the history of New Mexico Pueblo painters. He had little formal training—a few classes at the Santa Fe Indian School—but no other instructions. He painted in a style that might be called naïve, a style developed by Indians without formal instruction. He experimented with figure arrangement and action of the figures, something not yet being produced by other artists of the time.

Oqwa Pi painted in the traditional flat depictions in vogue at the Santa Fe Indian School of the period. There are no ground planes nor any background plants or features. He faithfully depicted the costuming of the figures thus providing a record of the details of the clothing of the period. He started painting as early as age 20, or around 1919.

Sanchez was eight times Governor of San Ildefonso Pueblo, was a farmer, and earned enough from sales of his paintings to support a very large family. His works were exhibited at the Milwaukee Art Institute, Yale University, Museum of Modern Art in New York City, Stanford University, and the Gallery of Fine Arts in Muskegon, Michigan. The fresh color and action and the great simplicity of his paintings made his paintings well received in all these exhibits.

This painting of a Pueblo Eagle Dance is typical of his finest paintings. The colors are soft, not harsh, and the figures are well drawn without the use of outlining. The clothing is accurately reflecting that of the early part of the 20^th century.

Condition: The painting appears to be in original excellent condition. It is framed using acid-free materials, but has not been examined out of the frame. There is no evidence of damage or acid-burn.

Provenance: ex. coll. Richard M. Howard, Santa Fe