Aquatint Etching Entitled Hopi Rain Bird [SOLD]

This etching presents a dynamic image in the Hopi avian-abstraction tradition, printed in sepia/alizarin crimson on cream paper. Titled accordingly, this etching/aquatint depicts a Hopi rain bird with scroll/volute, pendant feather, fine-line, fine-line hatching, and running triangular elements over a hand-wiped background of the slightest value and tone. It is suggestive of a certain stasis and symmetry, but avoiding true symmetry, in the utilization of disparate elements/motifs and irregular contour, resulting is a superb rendering.

The printing was begun on 02 June 1982 and completed on 30 June 1982. It was printed from a single 6- x 8-inch copper plate that was etched in ferric chloride for line and aquatints and inked with a mixture of sepia and alizarin crimson.  It was issued in an edition of 65 numbered copies, of which this is #51/65. Master printers were Catherine Clinger and Sherri Breggemann.

The etching was signed at lower right, Tsa-sah-wee-eh with the artist’s Little Standing Spruce cartouche, and initials HH below the signature.  At lower left is the house chop, at lower right is the printer’s chop, and the printer’s blind stamp is on verso. The edition number is on lower left.

Condition: this Aquatint Etching Hopi Rain Bird appears to be in original condition but has not been examined out of the frame
Provenance: from the collection of a gentleman from Santa Fe
Recommended Reading: Changing Woman: The Life and Art of Helen Hardin by Jay Scott

Photo of Helen Hardin (1943-1984) Tsa-Sah-Wee-Eh - Little Standing Spruce. Image Source: the photo copies (of original polaroid's) of Helen Hardin appear courtesy of the photographer.

Relative Links: Helen Hardin, Santa Clara Pueblo, Pablita Velarde, Native American symbols, Native American Paintings, etching - print, Hopi Pueblo