Original Painting of a Hunter signed Julian Martinez [SOLD]

This is a superlative painting of a hunter by Julian Martinez, one of the premier pueblo painters of the early 20th century. This fantastic, evocative, and subtly beautiful image depicts the man in profile, and is executed in gouache. The figure was created in contour with pencil and then wonderfully realized in opaque pigment, with all the traditional accoutrements. The dark black hair frames the coal-black face of the man, with feathered embellishments falling to the rear, from his hair. He wears a fine polychrome dance kilt with tin cones pendant, soft leather leggings with a beaded strip running down the outside and with beaded moccasins completing the ensemble.  He carries a bow in his left hand and an evergreen sprig in his right.

Martinez is most often associated with his wife, Maria Martinez, as the painter of her ceramics from the early 1900s until his death in 1943. He did, however, execute paintings on paper as well. He was one of the very early San Ildefonso self-taught easel artists. His watercolor paintings were definitely a minor activity as compared to his brilliant achievements as the decorator of Maria’s pottery. He was painting watercolors before 1920 and continued as time permitted until his death.

Condition: appears to be in original condition but has not been examined out of the frame.

Provenance: from the collection of a family from Pennsylvania

Recommended Reading:  Modern by Tradition: American Indian Painting in the Studio Style by Bruce Bernstein

Photo of Julian Martinez copyright Adobe Gallery.  Do not use without permission.  Written on the back of the photograph: 

San Ildefonso Pueblo, NM
Sun 8/23/31
Maria's husband stands beside our car. He was a good natured and a well-mannered fellow. 
Mara is a famous pottery maker. Their work is much in demand. 
I have 4 pieces.

TAGS:  painting, Julian Martinez, pueblo painters, dance kilt, leggings, beaded moccasins, Maria Martinez, ceramics, paintings, San Ildefonso