Koosa Clown with Evergreen Boughs [SOLD]

José Disiderio (J.D.) Roybal [1922-1978] Oquwa - Rain God was an accomplished artist.  He spent a considerable amount of his time painting small notecard size paintings of a single dancer or two such as this one.  This Koosa Clown appears to be performing in a ceremonial function as he has evergreen boughs as seen with dancers during the Corn Dance or Harvest Dance.

J. D. Roybal, whose full name was José Disiderio Roybal, and who’s Tewa name was Oquwa (Rain God), was a well-known painter from San Ildefonso Pueblo. He was born on November 7, 1922 at San Ildefonso, the son of Tonita and Juan Cruz Roybal. He passed away June 28, 1978. He was a nephew of Alfonso Roybal (Awa Tsireh).  He did a bit of painting in the 1930s but was not very productive until the 1950s. He was most productive in the 1960-1970 decades.

Condition: original condition

Recommended Reading: Southwest Indian Painting: A Changing Art by Clara Lee Tanner.  This book is currently not available from Adobe Gallery

Provenance: from the collection of a family from Colorado to whom we sold this in 1995 along with two others which are shown in Related Items below.