Beatien Yazz was born around 1930 and became enchanted with drawing and painting at a very early age. There were no other Navajo artists doing such at that time. None were making a living from being artists and easel art was virtually unknown to the very isolated Indians on the Navajo Reservation. Yazz may be the first Navajo to earn a living on the reservation as a painter of art.

For decades, Yazz painted in a style that could be considered traditional Native art. Following his membership in the Native American Church in the early 1960s, where Peyote Rituals were practiced, there began to evolve a change in his style. For a number of years, he produced paintings relative to peyote influence. This painting is one of that period. The peyote religion was a creation of Oklahoma Indians such as the Kiowa, and it was this Oklahoma influence that directed his art for five or so years in the early to mid-1960s.

It is difficult to know the meaning of this painting as to what Yazz had in mind. The four buffalo-type elements could represent the four directions and the colorful rays could represent a vision, but this is all speculation as only Yazz knows for sure.

The painting probably dates to mid 1960s. It is in original excellent condition and is framed using acid-free materials.

Provenance: From the collection of the family of Balcomb’s Ranch Gallery, Colorado.