“An American Indian in Paris” Stone Lithograph by Luiseño Artist Fritz Scholder [SOLD]

Having handled and studied many of Fritz Scholder's lithographs over the years, Adobe Gallery has become aware of an incredible evolution of style and composition that happened during a relatively brief period of time. Fritz Scholder began creating lithographs-reluctantly, according to some-in 1970 at Albuquerque's Tamarind Institute. His early lithographs were fairly simple, at least in comparison to those he'd make later on. Many early works used only black ink, or black ink augmented with one or two colors. Fritz Scholder would eventually grow to master the medium, creating works that feel less like drawings reproduced in multiples and more like the rich, complex compositions seen in his paintings. Fritz Scholder was a skilled and successful painter long before he explored lithography, so it's no surprise that many of those early works have become sought-after images, but the later works excel at making the most of the medium's possibilities.

“An American Indian in Paris” was completed in 1976—long after Fritz Scholder’s experimentation with, and eventual mastery of lithography, but before his work took a dark and dramatic thematic turn.  This image is bright, accessible, and appealing, but also complex and deep.  While Adobe Gallery does not usually pick favorites, we would not hesitate to describe “An American Indian in Paris” as one of Fritz Scholder’s strongest lithographs.  Fritz Scholder’s subject stands tall, wearing traditional regalia and facing the viewer directly.  Black ink provides a dark and dreamy outline, forming thick shadows on one side while barely appearing on the other.  Within and around the web of black, a variety of colors appear, filling in the details without clearly defining anything.  It is the way these colors serve as fundamental compositional elements rather than decorative additions that sets this image apart from the simpler early works.  Everything works together, gracefully, and naturally, to form this man and the unexpected setting in which he is depicted.  In the background, a massive block of blue forms the sky, while gorgeous red forms the earth.  In between the two, we see a green and black horizon line, dipping down to reveal the Eiffel Tower.

“An American Indian in Paris” was completed in an edition of 100.  The lithograph is signed Scholder in lower right and numbered 91/100 in lower center.  It is mounted with its edges exposed, within a wide off-white mat with a black interior band.  A simple black frame matches the black interior band.

Fritz Scholder (1937-2005) was by birth one-quarter Luiseño Indian, a California Mission Tribe. He was born in Minnesota, spent two decades in the Dakotas, and lived in Galisteo, NM and Scottsdale, AZ. Fritz Scholder came to Santa Fe in 1964 to teach advanced painting and art history at the new Institute of American Indian Arts, a school established by the United States Department of the Interior. He had obtained a Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Arizona in 1964 before moving to Santa Fe and joining IAIA.  Fritz Scholder enjoyed a long and successful career and is regarded today as one of the most innovative and influential Native artists.

Condition: excellent condition, with one very small crease in upper left corner

Provenance: "An American Indian in Paris" Stone Lithograph by Luiseño Artist Fritz Scholder is from a private collection

Recommended Reading:

- FRITZ SCHOLDER —An Intimate Look Institute of American Indian Arts Museum

- FRITZ SCHOLDER LITHOGRAPHS text by Clinton Adams

Relative Links: Fritz Scholder, Luiseño, Native American art, Santa Fe, lithographs, Albuquerque