Young Diné (Navajo) Boy with Lasso and Dog

This is another simple and charming painting of traditional Navajo Reservation lifestyle. This young Navajo boy is walking behind his dog as if planning to lasso him and the dog seems to be aware of the boy's intent. Yazz spent his artistic career painting scenes such as this of everyday activities on the reservation where life was simple and unaffected by the outside world.

Yazz was fond of painting young Navajo children at work and at play. He obviously relished his early years as a child on the Navajo Reservation where he was free to play and roam endless lands without restrictions or fear. His daily visits to the trading post on the reservation were his only exposure to non-Navajo ways and non-Navajo people. It was there that his penchant for painting was encouraged by the Lippincotts who were the traders at Wide Ruins Trading Post where Yazz grew up.

This painting probably dates to the 1960s. It is shrink wrapped for protection but has not been framed.

Provenance: This painting is among a collection from the Balcomb family, formerly owners of an art gallery which they closed in 1976.