Original Painting of a San Ildefonso Animal Dance [SOLD]

Abel Sanchez (1899-1971) Oqwa Pi - Kachina Stick was very accomplished at achieving depth in his paintings.  The young boy Antelope Dancer in the front right and the adult Deer Dancer in the front left are closer to the viewer that the corresponding pair in the center rear of the painting.  This is certainly one of the attributes that made this self-taught artist one of the most popular with collectors.

Traditionally, the Deer, Rams, and Buffalo Dancers are adult males and the Antelope Dancers are younger boys, relating to the size variation of the animals themselves, with the antelope being the smaller animal.

This painting was executed in opaque watercolor on paper.  It is signed with the artist’s Tewa name (Oqwa Pi ) in lower right but not dated.  Abel Sanchez was known as Oqwa Pi in the Tewa language.  He was the grandfather of San Ildefonso potter Russell Sanchez. Except for what little instruction he received at the Santa Fe Indian School, he had no formal training.  He was accepted as an exceptional artist and did raise and support a large family with his art alone.

Some of his paintings were exhibited in 1931 on a tour of many centers including Yale and Stanford universities, the Joslyn Memorial Museum in Omaha, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Milwaukee Art Institute, whose bulletin noted:

             “His paintings exhibit a fresh immediacy in color and movement of true aboriginal art: A wonderful simplicity, combined with the depth derived from that conventionalism which is the expression of ancient race experience.” Dunn 1968

Condition:  appears to be in original condition

Provenance: from a family member of the artist

Reference: Dunn, Dorothy.  American Indian Painting of the Southwest and Plains Areas, University of New Mexico Press, 1968

The above image source of Abel Sanchez (1899-1971) Oqwa Pi courtesy Russell Sanchez. Copyright Adobe Gallery. Do not copy or reproduce without permission.