Harrison Begay Original Painting Night Chant Gods with Four Yei and Talking God

Harrison Begay was born in 1914 on the Navajo Reservation. He attended the Santa Fe Indian School and studied under art teacher Dorothy Dunn. His distinctive style of painting has been popular for over 75 years. His art has influenced an entire generation of Native American painters.

Dunn encouraged her students to paint things from their culture. Begay's paintings often depict the participants of Navajo healing ceremonies. In this painting of the Night Chant, four Yei figures surround a Talking God (Haashch'eelti'i). Every facet of their jewelry, dance kilts, masks, and corn pollen bags are represented with perfect detail, allowing the viewer to experience the ceremonial aspects as if they were there in person. Above the spirits are two sets of four colored wands, which are the colors associated with the four sacred mountains.

Begay spent his life recording the traditions and landscapes of the Diné people. This particular piece is representative of some of his best work. It is painted with the beauty and harmony that is expected from a great artist.

Condition: original condition

Provenance: this Harrison Begay Original Painting Night Chant Gods with Four Yei and Talking God is from the collection of the client to whom we sold this in 2019

Recommended Reading: Indian Art: The Dorothy Dunn Collection of Native American Paintings, published in El Palacio, Winter 1977.

Recommended Exhibit: Diné Life and Legend: Paintings by Harrison Begay Harrison Begay (1917-2012) was a world-renowned Diné (Navajo) painter who is generally regarded as one of the most successful and influential early Native American painters. Harrison Begay was a world-renowned Diné - Navajo painter who is generally regarded as one of the most successful and influential early Native American painters.

TAGS: Native American Painting, Myron Denetclaw, Navajo Nation, Dorothy Dunn, Harrison Begay, Beatien Yazz