Pueblo Painting of a Rain Dance by José Encarnacion Peña

This 1975 watercolor by José Encarnacion Peña (1902-1979), also known as Soqueen (Frost on the Mountain), captures a vibrant depiction of the Rain Dance, a ceremonial tradition of San Ildefonso Pueblo. The composition centers on a procession of nine rain dancers arranged in the back row, moving in perfect synchrony, while the lead dancer stands at the front. Two Koshari, traditional Pueblo clowns, and a drummer occupy the foreground, bringing an air of ceremony and playfulness to the scene.

Peña's mastery of repetition in this painting conveys the unity of the dancers, their movements carefully aligned, creating a visual rhythm that echoes the sounds and steps of the Rain Dance itself. Each figure appears to be both an individual and part of a collective, reinforcing the cultural significance of this communal plea for rain. The colors, though soft and delicate as watercolors often are, bring out the deep connection between the dancers and the natural elements they call upon.

Titled Rain Dance, signed Soqueen and dated 1975, this work reflects Peña's extensive artistic journey, which began in the 1920s and evolved through his studies under Dorothy Dunn at The Studio of the Santa Fe Indian School. Known in his later years as "Enky", pronounced "Inky", Peña's art consistently celebrated Pueblo culture, and this painting is a mesmerizing tribute to the power of tradition and the deep bond between people and nature in San Ildefonso Pueblo life.

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this Pueblo Painting of a Rain Dance by José Encarnacion Peña is from the collection of a client from Santa Fe

Recommended Reading: Handbook of Indian Dances: New Mexico Pueblos. The Museum of New Mexico 1952.