Navajo (Diné) Painting of Young Boy Relaxing [SOLD]

Yazz was fond of painting young Navajo children at work and at play. He obviously relished his early years as a child on the Navajo Reservation where he was free to play and roam endless lands without restrictions or fear. His daily visits to the trading post on the reservation were his only exposure to non-Navajo ways and non-Navajo people. It was there that his penchant for painting was encouraged by the Lippincotts who were the traders at Wide Ruins Trading Post where Yazz grew up.

This young Navajo boy is whiling away the afternoon chewing grass and daydreaming. There are no animals to disturb his concentration and no landscape to draw his attention. He only has his thoughts in mind. He has his bow and arrows by his side, but it doesn’t look like he has any intentions to use them. What a marvelous statement Yazz makes in this painting by expressing how peaceful and quiet reservation life was for youngsters.

Condition: The painting is in original excellent condition. It has never been framed and is currently shrink-wrapped for protection. It is signed in lower right.

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