Adobe Gallery Blog

This original painting by Tonita Peña (Quah Ah) of San Ildefonso Pueblo was probably painted in 1921, this being based on the dual signature of her Native name and baptismal name.

The image depicts a male pueblo Corn Dancer in the traditional style with no ground plane and no background. In her paintings of dancers such as this she was able to make her dancers appear in motion rather than fixed in time. He is beautifully rendered in all the splendor of his dance clothing and body paint. Tonita was very good and presenting the finest detail of her dance figures.

Joe Herrera has stated that when his mother first started painting she signed all of her paintings with her Indian name. This lasted until sometime in 1915. A variation of this signature occurred shortly before or at the time Tonita became pregnant with her second son, Joe H. Herrera, probably in 1917 or 1918. She then modified and used the signature separating and capitalizing the H in her first name, in honor of her second husband, Herrera. This was used until the death of Felipe Herrera in 1920. Around 1921, she started using both of her names, one above the other.

Condition: appears to be in good condition with a slight browning of the paper
Provenance: from the collection of a Santa Fe family
Recommended Reading: Tonita Peña by Samuel L. Gray

Subject: Original Painting of a Pueblo Corn Dancer, circa 1921
Artist: Tonita Vigil Peña (1893-1949) Quah Ah
Category: Paintings
Origin: San Ildefonso Pueblo
Medium: gouache
Size: 7-1/2" image x 5-1/2" image; 11-3/4" x 9-3/4" framed
Item # C3374