Watercolor on Paper of Corn Dance Procession [SOLD]

J. D. Roybal (1922-1978) spent a large portion of his career painting small paintings, generally the size of note cards or postcards, featuring two or three costumed dancers. These were his bread-and-butter paintings as they were inexpensive and easy to sell. Occasionally, he painted larger paintings, again with two or three costumed dancers, but only rarely did he paint major dance ceremonies.  This is one of his larger paintings, measuring a little over 16 x 24 inches.  Featured are 18 figures in a procession line, led by the flag bearer.  Four Koosa Clowns seem to be harassing the dancers.

All of the figures are marvelously rendered and painted, with typical attention to detail in the depiction of accoutrement such as jewelry being worn and the face paint of the dancers, woven sash belts and the high pueblo-style moccasins worn by the male dancers. The detail of the evergreen twigs carried by the women is so defined that individual leaves are visible.  The figures stand on an abstracted baseline with polychrome motifs.  Above the dancers is an elaborate cloud array.  This certainly is a major painting by Roybal.

Condition: appears to be in original condition but has not been examined out of the frame.

Provenance: from a family collection in Pennsylvania

Recommended Reading: Southwest Indian Painting: A Changing Art by Clara Lee Tanner