Barela Wood Carving of two Figures [SOLD]

There is some question regarding the birth date of Barela.  The Harwood Museum of Taos published his date of birth as 1900 but he stated "I was born in 1908 in Bisbee, Arizona," so we are using that date.  He started his carving career in Taos, NM.  He was taken on by the Works Progress Administration working with a horse and cart. His carvings were spotted and he was set to do those instead, eventually as part of the Public Works of Art Project. This was in 1935 and eventually his work was exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art. He was lauded by the museum as "the most dramatic discovery" and he was called "discovery of the year" by Time magazine.

He was often called a primitive wood sculptor and is best known for his figures carved from a single piece of wood.  Many of his carvings were religious depictions although he did carve a number of secular items.

He was a prolific carver, but one who was self-taught.  He had no formal art training but was viewed as an artist of the highest praise.  He was not a rich man but chose to do his work and stay at home in his modest surroundings.  He lived in the small New Mexico village of Cañon, near Taos.  He died tragically in a fire in his studio in 1964 at the age of 56.

Many of his carvings, such as this one, remain a mystery as to what the artist had in mind when carving it.  There are two human figures, one kneeling that appears to be an angel and one that appears to be skeletal in nature.  The top center of the carving is made for holding a candle.  It appears that the wood of his choice was cedar and this is probably carved from cedar.  There are two angled holes on the back that were apparently meant to be used to hang this carving from nails on a wall as an altar.  Barela was not an educated man and many of his carvings were not signed.  This one does not show a signature but there is no question that it is the work of Barela.

Condition: original condition

Provenance:  from a collector in Albuquerque

Recommended Reading:  Patrocinio Barela: Taos Wood Carver by Mildred Crews, et. al. 1962 Taos Recordings and Publications, Taos.