Hunter Communicating with a Deer [SOLD]

The northern New Mexico pueblos celebrate dances annually to plead to the hunt animals—deer, antelope, rams and buffalo—to make themselves available as food for the natives and they also celebrate dances to thank the animals for doing so.  This painting appears to be the event of asking the deer to be available as needed.  There is a ceremonial feather bundle tied to the antler and the hunter seems to be pleading or talking to the deer.

The painting of a Hunter Communicating with a Deer was executed in watercolor on handmade paper.  It is floated on backing material to permit the entire paper to be visible and free of mat covering.  It is signed in lower right with the artist’s native name and dated 1996. 

Robert Montoya was born in 1947, and is the son of Ohkay Owingeh painter and former Santa Fe Indian School art department head, Gerónima Cruz Montoya. Mrs. Montoya began her teaching career as assistant to Dorothy Dunn. Robert Montoya has multiple degrees in architecture and has experience as an architect.  He resides at Sandia Pueblo.

Robert is not a prolific painter as his career in architecture occupies most of his time.  This painting is a wonderful presentation of the meaning of the pueblo animal dances.

Condition: original condition

Provenance: from the collection of a family from Albuquerque

Recommended Reading:  The Biographical Directory of Native American Painters by Patrick Lester

*Photo of Robert Montoya found in the public domain.