Original painting “Untitled—Tesuque Pueblo Buffalo Dance” [SOLD]

Olive Rush, a famous Santa Fe painter, bought Indian paintings and drawings as early as 1914 from Tesuque Pueblo. Among her early paintings were several by Pan-Yo-Pin. An exhibit in 1927 in New York featured an unusually large number of painters from New Mexico pueblos. Pan-Yo-Pin was included in this exhibit. These paintings made a tremendous impression on the Eastern public and were praised in the Eastern press.

Pan-Yo-Pin was again represented in the Exposition of Indian Tribal Arts in 1931 in New York. This was a major exposition conceived and executed by Santa Feans and supported with items lent by over 50 museums, colleges and private collectors. With artist John Sloan as its president, the exposition gave an important place to paintings among other selections of arts and crafts.

Pan-Yo-Pin’s paintings are typical of the Santa Fe Indian School students of the period. There is no background or ground plane. The dancers are in motion as evidenced by one uplifted foot. The figures are large, filling up most of the paper. His use of color is good and his attention to detail of the dancer’s skirts is evidence of care taken by the artist.

The painting is signed in lower left but not dated. It is quite probable that it dates to the 1930s decade. It is in original excellent condition. It is double matted with acid-free matting and framed in a wood frame. The painting has not been examined out of the frame.