Original Painting “Harvest Dance” by Tonita Peña

This captivating painting, created around 1930, depicts a vibrant Harvest Dance celebration. Tonita Peña, a renowned Pueblo artist, frequently revisited this theme throughout her career, each rendition offering a unique perspective.

The Harvest Dance celebrates the end of the cultivation cycle as the pueblo brings in its crops. In this particular painting, Peña captures the essence of the dance with her signature style. The male flagbearer leads the procession, followed by a dancer with a rattle. A female dancer, adorned in a black dress and tablita, is followed by a male drummer. Peña's brushwork, characterized by sharp lines and thick blocks of paint, lends a raw, human quality to the scene.

This artwork is not only a beautiful representation of Pueblo culture but also a testament to Peña's artistic skill and innovation. Signed by the artist with both her given name, "Tonita Peña," and her Pueblo name, "Quah Ah," the painting has been professionally matted and backed with acid-free materials to ensure its longevity.

Tonita Peña, a groundbreaking Pueblo Indian artist, was born Quah Ah in 1893 at San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico. Tragically orphaned at a young age, she was raised by her aunt and uncle at Cochiti Pueblo.

Peña was a pioneer, becoming the first Pueblo Indian woman to make a living as a painter. Her work, which often depicted ceremonial dances and everyday life at the pueblo, is characterized by its sensitivity and skill. She was a key member of the San Ildefonso Self-Taught Group, a collective of influential early Pueblo artists. Her work as a muralist and instructor at the Santa Fe Indian School brought inspiration to many aspiring Native American artists.

Today, Peña's paintings are highly sought by collectors and are displayed in prominent public and private collections. Her legacy as one of the greatest Pueblo Indian artists endures.

Condition: very good condition with new acid-free matte and backing

Provenance: this Original Painting "Harvest Dance" by Tonita Peña is from the collection of a client from California

Recommended Reading: Tonita Peña by Samuel L. Gray, 1990. Avanyu Publishing (Alexander E. Anthony, Jr.), Santa Fe, New Mexico.

TAGS: San Ildefonso, Santa Fe, Cochiti Pueblo, Julian Martinez, Alfonso Roybal, Abel Sanchez, Crecencio Martinez, Encarnación Peña, Albuquerque, paintings, Joe Herrera, Tonita Vigil Peña, Quah Ah