Adobe Gallery Blog

Romando Vigil's Tewa name, Tse Ye Mu means "Falling in Water" or "Falling Cloud." He was born in January 1902 at San Ildefonso Pueblo. He painted infrequently from 1920-1950, and then took a job with Walt Disney Studios. He returned to San Ildefonso and painted for about 10 years before his death in 1978.

Vigil was one of the San Ildefonso self-taught artists in the early part of the 20th century. He was a leader within the San Ildefonso Watercolor Movement, a movement that caught fire during 1915 to 1917. It fostered an art form unmatched in the culture history of the world. These men portrayed tribal culture and local wildlife, attaining a flat decorative character, absent of backgrounds and foregrounds, and free of traditional perspective, with an unerring color sense. Their success in these presentations was due to their understanding the ceremonials they painted because they had participated in them since childhood. They understood the meanings of the symbolism they interpreted.

This painting of a Tewa Buffalo Dancer was most likely painted in the last decade of the artist's life. It is much more detailed and better executed than his earlier paintings. Following his return from working at the Walt Disney Studios, he obviously was a much better artist from years of experience and critique. His use of many colors in this painting speaks of his experience in commercial work. This is one of the finest of Vigil's paintings that we have had.

Condition: appears to be in original condition but has not been examined out of the frame
Provenance: Adobe Gallery sold this painting to clients in 1989 and now they have brought it back to us for placement in another client's collection for their enjoyment.
Recommended Reading: American Indian Painting of the Southwest and Plains Areas by Dorothy Dunn

Title: San Ildefonso Pueblo Original Painting of a Buffalo Dancer
Artist: Romando Vigil (1902-1978) Tse Ye Mu - Falling Cloud
Category: Paintings
Origin: San Ildefonso Pueblo
Medium: tempera
Size: 10-1/2" x 6" image; 17-1/2" x 12-1/2" framed
Item # C3349B