Early Original Painting “Bear at Night” by Helen Hardin

"Bear at Night" offers a rare glimpse into the early developmental years of Helen Hardin, a groundbreaking artist from Santa Clara Pueblo. This unique assemblage consists of four individually painted boards, with one signature board, all mounted on burlap. The piece remains in its original frame and backing, preserving its authenticity and historical integrity.

The painting features a bear with heartline and bear paw motifs, deeply rooted in Helen Hardin's Santa Clara Pueblo heritage. While an early work, it already showcases elements of her later, more mature style — delicate and precise linework, a pebbled textured background, and her use of acrylic paint with varnishing rather than the traditional casein or gouache favored by earlier Pueblo painters like her mother, Pablita Velarde. These stylistic choices foreshadow the intricate geometric patterns and layered abstraction that would come to define her signature aesthetic.

Signed Tsa-Sah-Wee-Eh in the lower right, this painting is a testament to Hardin's artistic evolution. Born in 1943, she forged a distinct path from her mother and her contemporaries, blending Native American symbology with modernist abstraction. Though her life was cut short in 1984, Hardin left behind a legacy of innovation, with works like "Bear at Night" providing valuable insight into the foundations of her remarkable career.

Condition: original condition

Provenance: This Early Original Painting "Bear at Night" by Helen Hardin is from a private collection.

Recommended Reading:  Changing Woman: The Life and Art of Helen Hardin by Jay Scott

TAGS: Helen Hardin, Santa Clara Pueblo, Pablita Velarde, Native American symbols, Native American Paintings, Acoma Pueblo