Large Pueblo Dance Scene with Kiva and Buildings

This pueblo dance scene was painted by a Pueblo Indian artist. When the painting arrived at Adobe Gallery, there was some debate about who created it. One knowledgeable scholar suggested Cochiti artist Joe Herrera, and the stylistic similarities are visible. Its signature could be read as either "JH" or "JEI," neither of which is how Herrera signed. At some point, it had been attributed to another name—Jose Herrera—but we could find no record of this person's existence. We cannot say with absolute certainty who created this piece.

This remarkable image includes thirteen dancers in the foreground and a depiction of a pueblo in the background. The clothing and flag are consistent with the possible Joe Herrera attribution, as is the round kiva. The dancers are rich in both character and detail, moving across the image from left to right in pairs. They wear and carry the typical ceremonial clothing and paraphernalia, all which Herrera depicted carefully.

The color palette is bright and energetic, making heavy use of greens, reds, and oranges. Dense bursts of bold color and large expanses of unpainted paper balance each other out beautifully. The foreground dance scene is traditional, but the background pueblo imagery feels somewhat playful. Remarkably, these two potentially contrasting styles work together beautifully. This is a unique and beautiful ceremonial dance scene.

The painting is signed JH or JEI in lower right. It is framed beautifully using archival materials and a carved black frame.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: this Large Pueblo Dance Scene with Kiva and Buildings is from a private Santa Fe collection

References:

- Southwest Indian Painting: A Changing Art by Clara Lee Tanner

- American Indian Painting of the Southwest and Plains Areas by Dorothy Dunn

TAGS: Cochiti Pueblo, Tonita Vigil Peña - Quah Ah, San Ildefonso, Native American Paintings, Joe Hilario Herrera