Diné Yeibichai Evening Dance [SOLD]

Andy 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.

Tsihnahjinnie's best work is his portrayal of Navajo life and ceremonies. He is known for his attention to detail in paintings. This painting reflects a night dance of Navajo Yei Dancers.  The Yei impersonate the Deity Yeibichai of the Diné.  The Diné are a spiritual people and everything in their life is a reflection of their beliefs.  This dance is performed at the end of a nine-day ceremony and is the public dance following the non-public portion of the previous days. 

The artist signed his name in lower right as A. Tsinajinnie. Over the period of his career, Tsihnahjinnie signed his name in several spellings. We are using the spelling published in two books that contain information of his life and life's work.

This painting was executed late in the career of the artist.  It is less structured than his earlier paintings and reflects his use of brighter colors, a result of his failing eyesight.  It is a good example of Navajo folk art if not Navajo fine art and an excellent example of the artist's later works.

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

Provenance: from a California collector of Native art

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