Male and Female Pueblo Dance Participants Original Painting by Tonita Peña

Tonita Peña's body of work is largely dedicated to depicting ceremonial dance scenes, with only a handful of pieces exploring other themes. What's remarkable is how each dance scene possesses its own distinct character. Peña portrayed her figures with exceptional sensitivity, and this piece is a prime example of her artistry.

This small painting offers an intimate portrayal of both male and female Pueblo dance participants. Presented in profile and facing right, the artwork captures the dancers' clothing and adornments with precise and fine detail.

Tonita Peña (1893-1949), also known as Quah Ah, was born in 1893 in the small pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico, located along the Rio Grande, just north of Santa Fe. After her mother's passing when Peña was twelve, her father, unable to care for her due to his responsibilities at the pueblo, took her to live with her aunt and uncle at Cochiti Pueblo, where she remained for the rest of her life. Peña was the only woman among the early group of talented pueblo artists known as The San Ildefonso Self-Taught Group, which included notable figures such as Julian Martinez, Alfonso Roybal, Abel Sanchez, Crescencio Martinez, and Encarnación Peña. These artists are recognized as the earliest known pueblo painters, and their works are now highly prized for their historical significance and exceptional quality.

Condition: good condition

Provenance: this Male and Female Pueblo Dance Participants Original Painting by Tonita Peña is  from a collector in New York

Recommended Reading: Tonita Peña by Samuel L. Gray, 1990. Avanyu Publishing (Alexander E. Anthony, Jr.), Santa Fe, New Mexico.

TAGS: San Ildefonso, Santa Fe, Cochiti Pueblo, Julian Martinez, Alfonso Roybal, Abel Sanchez, Crecencio Martinez, Encarnación Peña, Albuquerque, paintings, Joe Herrera