Original Watercolor entitled “War Dancer” by Pablita Velarde [R]

Pablita Velarde painted with mineral earth pigments that she prepared herself and also painted with casein paints. This painting was executed in casein paints and believed to have been completed in the early 1970s. 

Having never seen a War Dancer perform at any pueblo, I am unaware of the purpose of the dance, whether it is in preparation of a conflict or in celebration of a former conflict.  At any rate, such a dancer obviously exists and we will accept Pablita's version as being accurate.  It does not look like traditional pueblo clothing or dance attire so most likely it is a dance performed by Plains Indians and one that Pablita enjoyed and decided to paint.  Dances are performed by many tribes annually at the Powwow celebrated every year in April in Albuquerque with tribes from all over the United States and Canada participating.  Perhaps Pablita witnessed such a dance at one of the Powwows. 

Condition: The art piece is in excellent condition except there is a very small area of glue residue just to the left of the signature. It appears that a piece of Scotch tape was there and removed, leaving the slight tape residue.

Recommended Reading:  Woman’s Work -- The Art of Pablita Velarde by Sally Hyer

Provenance: from the collection of a family from Virginia to whom we sold this in 2005.