A Colt Enchanted with Butterflies [SOLD]

Robert Chee (1937-1971) Hashke-Yil-e-Cale was a Diné painter whose life and career were, unfortunately, very short. Chee's mother recognized his talent and enrolled him at Brigham, Utah's Inter-Mountain School. There, he studied with famous Apache artist Allan Houser. He was in the military from 1958 to 1961, and was actively creating art then, too, painting murals in Army facilities in Germany.

Chee's paintings are almost always in keeping with the traditional Diné style, which had already been made recognizable by artists like Harrison Begay, Quincy Tahoma, and Gerald Nailor. The influence of these predecessors is clear in his paintings, particularly in his subjects' faces. The fine lines and incredible detail for which the pioneering Diné painters are rightfully celebrated is present in Chee's strongest works. Chee died in 1971, at just 34 years old.

This untitled painting is a simple, classic image that will appeal to anyone with a fondness for Navajo imagery.  Chee’s subject, here, is an inexperienced young colt who is fascinated by the butterflies, perhaps the first he has ever seen.  Chee’s image was incredibly well-crafted. His color choices were simple but effective: strong brown, black and white with a background blue paper.  White cloud-like swirls are backing for the colt, who stands on a simple mound of ground with very modern-looking chamissa in the foreground.

Condition: this painting of A Colt Enchanted with Butterflies appears to be in good condition

Provenance: from the collection of a family from Washington State

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