Untitled Painting Hair Washing with Yucca Root Shampoo [SOLD]

Long before commercial companies manufactured shampoo, Native Americans discovered that the root of the yucca plant provided an excellent shampoo that not only cleaned their hair but left it with a beautiful sheen.

It appears that the mother and young boy in this painting have just finished washing their hair with yucca shampoo.  There is a yucca plant on the left and a pitcher and bowl on the right. Both mother and boy seem to be wiping their hair with their hands while standing out in the sun.

Other than these images, there are no other sky or background images to distract from the main subject matter. The Untitled Painting Hair Washing with Yucca Root Shampoo is signed Gerald Nailor ’37 in lower right.

Gerald Nailor (1917-1952) painted in a decorative manner unlike any other Navajo artist.  His style was unique and quite recognizable.  He generally painted in soft matte colors.

"In 1937, Nailor shared a studio in Santa Fe with Allan Houser. His paintings were exhibited in the home of Mrs. Hall Adams from 1943 to 1952. At the time of his death, he was living with his family at Picuris Pueblo, NM. Tragically, Nailor was only 35 years old when [he] died from injuries received in an attempt to help a woman whose husband was brutally beating her." Snodgrass, 1968.

Condition: the painting was delivered to us beautifully framed and it appears to be in very good condition.  It has not been examined out of the frame.

Provenance: from a gentleman from Texas

Recommended Reading:  American Indian Painting of the Southwest and Plains Areas by Dorothy Dunn