Navajo Original Ink Drawing of Diné Men on Horseback by Narciso Platero Abeyta - Ha So De [SOLD]

Narciso Platero Abeyta - Ha So De was an early Diné painter and silversmith who, because of his unique and wonderful style, is very popular with today’s collectors.  He was, among other things, a Golden Gloves boxer and one of the hundreds of Navajo Code Talkers who served in the Marines during World War II. Abeyta studied at the Santa Fe Indian School, and attended the University of New Mexico after his World War II service ended.  

Abeyta was born in Correo, New Mexico in 1920. He and wife Sylvia Ann had seven children, many of whom-Tony Abeyta, Elizabeth Abeyta Rohrscheib and Pablita Abeyta-became notable artists themselves. He is highly revered by collectors of Native American paintings, and his works are included in numerous prestigious public and private collections.

Abeyta’s style is noticeably different from that of his early Santa fe Indian School contemporaries.  His work usually eschews fine details in favor of bold, expressive movements. His early works mostly focused on everyday Diné life—animals, women weaving, and the like—but differed greatly from similarly-themed works by his peers.  His unusual linework was a defining characteristic that began early in his career and continued throughout it.

Ha So De’s works tend to sell quickly here at the gallery, especially those that are especially unique or unusual.  This piece—an ink drawing on paper, created in the 1950s—most definitely fits that description. We’ve never seen or handled a Ha So De ink drawing, and do not know whether he produced many similar works.  With this drawing, Ha So De created an action-packed scene containing two men, two horses and three deer, surrounded by a variety of rocks and plants. In the foreground, the viewer sees one of the men and his horse along with two of the deer in profile.  Behind these figures, on the painting’s left side, Ha So De drew another man, horse, and deer. These three are seen from behind, which is atypical but handled here very skillfully. The horse turns its head to the left, allowing the viewer to see an eye and an open mouth.  The man turns to his right and down towards the deer. It’s a dynamic, exciting composition that will delight those who appreciate Ha So De’s graceful experimentation.

Even when working without his preferred tools, Ha So De’s style is distinctive and compelling.  His typical color palette—”somber,” according to Clara Lee Tanner, though we would add that he balanced these tones brilliantly with bold, bright colors—is not a factor here, but the piece is still immediately recognizable.  His groups of multiple thick outlines, which are usually made of strange but complementary colors, are not a part of this image, either. Instead, he accents and exaggerates certain lines and areas by simply adding more black.  He also adds shading in certain areas, which is not usually seen in his colorful paintings. His linework is thin and precise, but dynamic and expressive. This is another special work from one of the great early Native individualists.

The drawing is signed Ha So De in lower right, and placed within a simple wood frame, underneath a wide, off-white mat.  Ha So De was born in 1918 and passed away in 1998.

Condition: small stains are scattered around the piece

Provenance: this Navajo Original Ink Drawing of Diné Men on Horseback by Narciso Platero Abeyta - Ha So De is from the artist’s family

Recommended Reading: Southwest Indian Painting: A Changing Art by Clara Lee Tanner

Relative Links: Dorothy Dunn, Andy Tsihnahjinnie, Raymond Jonson, Tony Abeyta, Elizabeth Abeyta Rohrscheib, Native American paintings, Narciso Platero Abeyta - Ha So De