Original Painting of 2 Navajo Young Men Playing Cards [SOLD]

There is very little published information on Navajo artist Robert Chee primarily because he passed away at the young age of 34 years.  According to Dorothy Dunn (1968), "Robert Chee is an energetic and capable young painter whose talents seem only partially indicated in his many pictures."  Clara Lee Tanner (1973) stated "Chee showed considerable potential which was never fully realized.  He died late in 1971." 

It is, of course, only speculation but Chee would have probably been one of the outstanding traditional artists of the last half of the 20^th century had he lived.  His work is as good as any of the Navajo artists of that period.  He captured the essence of Navajo life on the reservation by presenting scenes of everyday life.

This painting shows two young Navajo boys playing cards while a companion sleeps under the tree and another Navajo approaches on horseback from afar.  Arched above the boys is a rainbow-like feature with the masks of two Navajo supernatural Yei protecting the boys?  The painting is well executed and has a charm of Navajo paintings from the 1960s of artists like Harrison Begay and Beatien Yazz.

Condition:  The painting is in good condition with the exception of some discoloration in the upper left quadrant. It has recently been framed using archival materials and a new wood frame.

Provenance: from the collection of Katherine H. Rust

Recommended Reading: Southwest Indian Painting: a changing art by Clara Lee Tanner