Untitled Painting of a Pueblo Village by Charles Craig [R]

Becoming the first major Western artist to paint Taos in 1881, Charles Craig was strongly influenced by the lifestyles of cowboys and Indians on the frontier of the United States, as well as the landscapes in which they resided. Although he eventually settled in Colorado Springs, Colorado, he spent a brief time living and working in Taos, which was when he painted this scene of the Pueblo.

In this painting Craig has depicted a building at Taos Pueblo, and it is unique in that it shows a different angle than most of the commonplace portrayals of Taos Pueblo. The scene itself is incredibly serene, and shows a typical day, likely morning, at the Pueblo. The sunlight in the Southwest is something that can hardly be characterized, it must be experienced, but Craig has done a fantastic job of conveying it here. The angled shadows underneath the building are especially striking and give the viewer a sense of the magnitude of the sunlight. Additionally, the quintessential infinite Southwestern sky is depicted behind the Pueblo. The Pueblo itself is beautifully portrayed, with its humble adobe walls, small windows, and wooden stairs leading up to the higher floors. Red chile ristras can be seen hung from the outside of the structure as well, and if one looks closely, a few reposeful figures can be observed to the right of them.

The skill displayed here by Craig cannot be understated. In this piece he has wonderfully showcased the essence of a quiet day at Taos Pueblo.  Set in an ornate golden frame, the painting is signed in the bottom right edge by Charles Craig.

Charles Craig (1846-1931) was born in Morgan County, Ohio, but spent the majority of his life in the American West, painting scenes inspired by Western and Indian life. He spent several years living amongst Native American tribes in Montana and New Mexico before ultimately settling in Colorado Springs, CO. He lived and painted in Colorado Springs for fifty years before his passing in 1931, creating many outstanding works in the meantime.

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this Untitled Painting of a Pueblo Village by Charles Craig is from a client who purchased it in New York decades ago

Reference: Peggy and Harold Samuels, The Illustrated Biographical Encyclopedia of Artists of the American West

TAG: Western Art, Charles Craig