Untitled Diné (Navajo) Painting of a Group of Horses [SOLD]

Andy Tsihnahjinnie, as he was commonly known, spent three and-a-half years in the Marine Corps in Asia, including Japan. Clara Lee Tanner states in her book Southwest Indian Painting: A Changing Art “Although this may not have affected him directly, certainly some of his postwar paintings have a decided Asian flavor.” (Clara Lee Tanner, 1957). It should also be noted that the artist changed styles many times throughout his lifetime. Of particular interest to Tsihnahjinnie were horses and he painted them in many varieties during his career.

This painting by Tsihnahjinnie depicts an Indian on horseback lassoing the turquoise colored horse while the other three flee in a frenzy of a stampede. The tone is decidedly dark and the color usage is rich and bold. Interestingly, the artist has, throughout the painting, expressed movement by articulating the arm of the Indian and legs and body movements of the horses. The lines delineating such movements are faint white lines almost like shadows. The artist has employed a very clever use of articulation to show activity.

Condition: The painting appears to be in original excellent condition. It is matted and framed in a simple gold aluminum frame. It is signed in lower center A.Tsihnahjinnie.

Provenance: ex. coll. California Indian painting collector.