Original Painting "Mimbres Men and Bear" [SOLD]

Tony Da, the son of Popovi Da, was a third generation Martinez. He was born in 1940 and at a young age showed skill and much prospect at becoming a painter. All through school Da excelled artistically and he eventually moved on to major in art at Western New Mexico University, which was located in the same area as the prehistoric Mimbres Indians.

Being exposed to this area led Da’s artwork to be largely influenced by Mimbres pottery designs. After leaving the university and joining the Navy he began pursuing his art full time, gaining him early recognition as an exceptional young artist.

“Tony often used his favorite source, prehistoric Mimbres designs, as a subject in paintings and pottery alike. At other times he combined the traditional with the abstract, the abstract with the realistic or semi-realistic, or perhaps an image against a background of design motifs. His subjects are always handled in an unusual and inventive manner.” (The Legacy of Maria Poveka Martinez, pg. 137).

This statement certainly rings true for this painting. In it are depicted two Mimbres men pulling a bear. Everything from the body positions to the features of both the men and bear seem to veer away from realism in favor of a more abstract, semi-realistic view of Mimbres culture. The background inside the geometrical shape, utilizes tiny multicolored paint droplets that add a large amount of texture to the scene taking place in the foreground. Behind the dots is another background, tannish-brown in color that helps add to the earthy more naturalistic sense of the work as a whole.

This piece is signed Da and dated 70, short for 1970. It is in original excellent condition.

Tony Da pieces are all too rare considering he started his career around 1964, when he moved in with Maria, and ended it with his crippling motorcycle accident around 1980.

He has recently passed away on the 12th of February, 2008 at 67 years of age.