Most of Beatien Yazz’s work reflects the everyday lives of the Navajo. It is not always obvious when he is picturing secular life-ways or religious life-ways, but in this instance, he has provided us with a hint by having the beautiful young Navajo girl carry a basket of cornmeal. She is dressed in her finest clothing and wrapped in a beautiful blanket.

Navajo ceremonials or blessings always involve the use of sacred cornmeal. The fact that she is carrying a basket full of cornmeal indicates that she is headed to a Sing or other religious ceremony. Her beautiful but serious face indicates the seriousness of what she is about to do.

The brilliant colors used by Yazz in this painting are still beautifully brilliant. The painting is certainly one of the most significant and beautiful of his work. The colors are magnificent.

Condition: The painting is matted and shrink-wrapped but not framed. It appears to be in original excellent condition but has not been examined out of the shrink-wrap.

Provenance: This painting is among a collection from the Balcomb family, formerly owners of an art gallery which they closed in 1976.