Diné (Navajo) Yeibichai Dancers [SOLD]

Navajo Yeibichai are masked dancers representing the Deity Yei Supernatural Beings.  The leader of the dancers is Talking God, the feather headdress dancer to the left.  Prior to the turn of the 20^th century, Yei were not permitted to be represented in textiles or paintings in any permanent forms.  The only use was for true Navajo sandpaintings used in healing ceremonies.  Much displeasure was exhibited by traditional Navajo when some weavers and painters began picturing Yei in forms that were to be sold to non-Indians. 

Tsihnahjinnie was born near Chinle, Arizona in 1916. He attended elementary school at the Indian School at Fort Apache, but ran away and returned back to the reservation. He then attended school in Santa Fe and became a student of Dorothy Dunn at the Santa Fe Indian School. He was an avid student and was known to have stayed in the studio painting until forced to return to the dormitory. Following his graduation he went to work as an illustrator for the Indian Service.  His birth in 1916 was after some Navajo began illustrating Yei in textile and painted form, so he grew up in a period where it did not appear to be taboo but was more acceptable.

The painting is signed in lower left but not dated.  It is matted and framed in a wood frame.

Condition:  appears to be in original condition but has not been examined out of the frame.

Provenance: from a collector of Native paintings from California

Recommended Reading: American Indian Paintings of the Southwest and Plains Areas by Dorothy Dunn