Navajo Ceremonial Dance with 10 Participants [R]

Begay is a living legend among Indian artists. His traditional flat, graphic art depicts life, animals and religion of the Navajo people. He has frequently been copied but never equaled. He attended the Santa Fe Indian School in 1934 where he completed his high school education. It was there that he met and studied under the well-known Dorothy Dunn, whose influence is still evident.

Unlike so many of his contemporaries who use strong colors, Begay has an affinity for the softer pastel hues. This renders his paintings with a feeling of warmth and mellowness. His expression of gentle charm, his fluid lines, his fresh and clear colors are evident in his works.

This painting presents, in his very traditional manner, a Navajo Yei ceremony. As is traditional with Begay, there is no ground plane and there is no attempt to present the figures in a three-dimensional manner.

The painting is signed with the artist names but not dated. It is matted and framed in wood frame and appears to be in original excellent condition.