RARE Original Painting of a Hopi Pueblo Katsina [SOLD]

Tuvahoema was a student of Indian schools at Hopi Pueblo as well as in Santa Fe and Albuquerque. He was known for his depictions of katsinas that were “tall and lean, but with good detail and color in costume, mask, and paraphernalia.” (Southwest Indian Painting: A Changing Art, by Clara Lee Tanner). Modeling, or the use of shading to give depth, was not Tuvahoema’s strong suit, but his drafting was very precise.

Tuvahoema’s paintings were few; he contracted tuberculosis shortly after leaving school and spent much of his remaining life in sanatoriums in Arizona. He passed away in 1942 at the young age of 28. Most of his paintings were done in the late 1930s.

According to Chad Burkhardt, Tuvahoema, somewhat like Tawaquaptewa, used various parts from different katsinas when depicting one. This painting contains elements from a number of Katsinam so it is not possible to assign a Katsina name to it. It is just a classic work of art by a talented Hopi painter.

Condition: There are a few spots below the feet of the katsina and near the edges of the paper that could be dripped casein paints or perhaps water spots; otherwise it is in excellent condition.