Original Painting “Two Indian Boys on Horse with Four Colts and Dog”

"Two Indian Boys on Horse with Four Colts and Dog" is a striking original painting on white mat board by Diné of the Navajo Nation artist Harrison Begay. Executed in a horizontal format, this piece features an unusual and captivating composition for Begay: every figure — two boys riding together on a single horse, four colts, a dog, and even birds overhead — are rendered in profile, all moving in harmony to the right. The effect is a rhythmic, almost cinematic procession that conveys both movement and quiet purpose.

With his signature precision, intuitive sense of color, and graceful line work, Begay captures a pastoral moment of responsibility and companionship, as the boys tend to their colts with their dog in pursuit. The simplicity of the white mat board serves to highlight the gentle vibrancy of the colors and the elegance of the forms, emphasizing Begay's gift for distilling complex narratives into serene, balanced compositions.

Harrison Begay (1917-2012) Haskay Yahne Yah (The Wandering Boy) was a self-taught painter who studied under Dorothy Dunn at the Santa Fe Indian School. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential early Native American artists, celebrated for his distinct style and Navajo-centered subject matter. Though best known for his watercolors and silkscreen prints, this acrylic painting reflects his enduring ability to convey cultural identity, tradition, and emotion with refined beauty and grace.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: This Original Painting "Two Indian Boys on Horse with Four Colts and Dog" by Harrison Begay is from a collector in Rio Rancho, NM.

Recommended Reading: Indian Art: The Dorothy Dunn Collection of Native American Paintings, published in El Palacio, Winter 1977

TAGS: Navajo Nation, Native American Paintings, Harrison Begay, Diné of the Navajo Nation Painter