Koosa Clown Admonishing Someone [SOLD]

J. D. Roybal, whose full name was José Disiderio Roybal, and who’s Tewa name was Oquwa (Rain God), was a well-known painter from San Ildefonso Pueblo. He was born on November 7, 1922 at San Ildefonso, the son of Tonita and Juan Cruz Roybal. He passed away June 28, 1978. He was a nephew of Alfonso Roybal (Awa Tsireh).  He did a bit of painting in the 1930s but was not very productive until the 1950s. He was most productive in the 1960-1970 decades.

The Koosa Clowns are disciplinarians and it appears that this one, with his finger pointing, is admonishing someone.  Often, they harass Katsinas until the Katsinas then turn around the action and attack the clowns.  This clown may be in for a beating soon.  Roybal’s most popular subject matter was his rendition of these Tewa Clowns known as Koshare or Koosa. Often he presented them in a jovial manner.  He used water-based paints throughout his career. His excellent detail in small paintings never went unnoticed. In his work there prevails fine color, excellent detail, small and fine outlines, gesturing figures, and a pleasing combination of heavy conventional themes with realistic subjects.

Condition: original condition

Recommended Reading: Southwest Indian Painting: A Changing Art by Clara Lee Tanner.  This book is currently not available from Adobe Gallery

Provenance: from the collection of a family from Colorado to whom we sold this in 1995 along with two others which are shown in Related Items below.