Justino Herrera Original Painting of Ceremonial Dance dated 1949 [R]

This original painting was created in 1949 by Justino Herrera. Only on rare occasions does a work by this artist surface on the market. The few that have passed through Adobe Gallery have been excellent paintings; all of them were completed in some variation of the traditional "flat" style that is commonly associated with the early pueblo painters.

This piece focuses on a ceremonial dance. In the foreground, a woman kneels, with her back turned toward the viewer. She plays a rasping gourd. Just past her, a man dances, holding a rattle and an evergreen bough. Just past him and facing the opposite direction, a clown appears. The arrangement of the three figures forms a strong composition, and Herrera's work with the details is strong. The color palette is minimal, leaning heavily on gray and green tones. This is an excellent piece by an artist whose work is scarce.

The painting is signed Justin Herrera and dated 49 in lower right. It is framed under a tan matte in a thin wood frame.

Though perhaps best known for its pottery, Cochiti Pueblo also has become renowned for its painters. Justino Herrera (1920 - 2006) Stimone was born at Cochiti Pueblo in 1920 and attended the famous "The Studio" at the Santa Fe Indian School. His arts training was interrupted by World War II, during which he served in the United States Army. After his return, his wife passed away, leaving him to raise his daughter, with little time to paint. Although published in Snodgrass, Brody, and Tanner, and included in collections such as Gilcrease Museum, The Museum of New Mexico, and the National Museum of the American Indian, Herrera's works are uncommon and difficult for collectors to come by.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: this Justino Herrera Original Painting of Ceremonial Dance dated 1949 is from a private collection

Recommended Reading: Southwest Indian Painting by Clara Lee Tanner

TAGS: Cochiti Pueblo, Native American Paintings, Justino Herrera