Original Painting “White Buffalo Dance” [R]

It is well documented that Helen Hardin started her art career painting in the traditional Pueblo style that all artists of her period practiced, and that was being painted by her own mother, Pablita Velarde. She then developed her own unique, highly structured and linear style in succeeding years.

This casein painting was executed around 1967 and resembles Helen’s earlier traditional technique, but begins to show her departure to a more cubist style. The lack of a ground plane and the simplified clouds in the background reflect her earlier works. Note the square treatment of the faces and arms of the dancers, which reflect where she would take her painting style in the future. Later, she would expand greatly on this style.

It is rare to fine one of Helen’s early paintings executed in casein paint. For most of her career, she worked in acrylic paints. This piece is in original excellent condition. It is matted and framed. The signature Tsa-Sah-Wee-Eh, along with the tree cartouche appears in lower right.

Item Provenance:
This item was presented in the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center's special exhibit “TIMELESS BEAUTY” in Albuquerque, New Mexico, January-August 2008. This exhibition celebrated the achievements and impact made by some of the most renowned Pueblo women artists on the preservation, exposure, and development of the indigenous and contemporary art forms of Pueblo people. Curated by the IPCC in collaboration with Santa Fe-based Adobe Gallery and the School for Advanced Research, “TIMELESS BEAUTY” showcased a collaborative collection of artwork created by these influential women.