San Ildefonso Pueblo Painting of a Pueblo Dancer [SOLD]

José Angela Aguilar, sometimes known as Joe Aguilar, was the son of Susana Aguilar—a well-known potter—and is known to have painted pottery for his mom.  He was the husband of Rosalie Simbola Aguilar, also a potter, for whom he painted pottery.  He was an exceptional painter.  Kenneth Chapman included him on a list of fifteen men who painted pottery at San Ildefonso before 1940.  His son, Alfred Aguilar, said that his father formed pots, as well as painting them. 

There is no mention of him in either Clara Lee Tanner's book or in Dorothy Dunn's book as a painter of paintings; however, there are other references that indicate he was.  Snodgrass, in her book, stated "The artist has been actively engaged in art and related subjects since 1944.  In 1949, he began painting experiments in new directions."  

This painting of a pueblo (corn?) dancer is quite possibly an early one by the artist.  It is signed Joe A Aguilar but there is no date unless perhaps it is on verso which has not been examined because the backing is covered by foam core.  The painting has been framed using archival materials and a hand-carved wood frame made by Tres Mowka Designs of Santa Fe, one of Santa Fe's finest and most expensive framers. 

References: 

Tanner, Clara Lee. "Southwest Indian Painting, a Changing Art" 1957.

Dunn, Dorothy.  "American Indian Painting of the Southwest and Plains Areas" 1968.

Stewart, Kathryn. "Portfolio II Eleven American Indian Artists" 1988.

Snodgrass, Jeanne O. "American Indian Painters: A Biographical Directory" 1968.