Original Painting “Thunder Bird Symbol” [SOLD]

Wo Peen is considered one of the early artists that made up the "San Ildefonso School."  According to Tanner (1973), in the mid- to late-1950s, he painted powerful, dramatic horses.  By the late 1960s, he was no longer painting.

Snodgrass (1968) stated "Known as a pioneer Pueblo muralist, Wo Peen painted actively in the early 1920s.  A hunting accident caused the loss of his right hand; however, he still paints today."

Between 1929 and 1952, C. Szwedzicki, a publisher in Nice, France, produced six portfolios of North American Indian art. American Scholars Oscar Brousse Jacobson, Hartley Burr Alexander and Kenneth Milton Chapman edited the publications. Many of the images were published as Pochoir prints which are similar in appearance to silkscreen prints. These works represent original works by 20^th Century American Indian artists.  Wo Peen was one of the nine Pueblo artists represented in the portfolio.

This painting, entitled "Thunder Bird Symbol" was painted on art paper and entitled and identified on verso, most likely by someone other than the artist.  The Tewa name Oguapi shown following the artist's name is incorrect.  The Tewa name of Louis Gonzales is Wo Peen.  I verified with Russell Sanchez that this indeed is a painting by Wo Peen and there was only one Louis Gonzales at San Ildefonso Pueblo.  The name Oqwa Pi is the Tewa name of Abel Sanchez.  Someone simply made a mistake.