Original Navajo Painting of Diné Woman and Sheep by Quincy Tahoma [SOLD]

This Navajo painting by notable Diné artist Quincy Tahoma dates to 1949. Collectors who are familiar with Tahoma’s work will notice immediately that this is an atypical image.  The artist’s subject here is a Diné woman tending to her sheep. Tahoma was clearly fond of her subject, as she is presented in an incredibly endearing way. She’s smiling, beautifully, walking one direction while looking back over her shoulder.  She points towards the painting’s lower left corner, where a small sheep and a gray puppy have befriended each other. In the background, a horse stands in the shade of a single tree. Further away, smoke rises from a hogan. Beyond that, mesas rise into a sky decorated by two wide cloud formations.

Tahoma’s usual intense action is nowhere to be seen here. Instead, the image is all warmth and beauty.  Even his colors are softer—he almost always used bold, opaque, paints; but in this image he went with light, wispy tones.  One might notice that, subject matter-wise, the image is more Harrison Begay than Quincy Tahoma. Perhaps Tahoma appreciated the works of his similarly influential peer, and decided to make his own piece in a style more like Begay’s.  Whatever the reason for its creation, this is a very special Quincy Tahoma painting with an unusually sweet feel.

The painting is signed and dated “Tahoma ‘49” in lower right. The artist’s signature cartouche image shows the woman running after the dog and sheep.  The painting is framed under glass using archival materials, in a simple wood frame.

Quincy Tahoma (1917-1956) ranks among the most significant early Diné painters.  Clara Lee Tanner, in her book referenced below,   describes him as “one of the most dynamic, imaginative and gifted of Southwest Indian artists . . . He also revealed in his works the extreme rhythm and decorative feelings that are essentially Indian.”  Tahoma was born in Tuba City, Arizona. He attended and studied art at the Santa Fe Indian School from 1936 to 1940. He served in World War II, and then lived most of the remainder of his life in Santa Fe. Tahoma passed away in 1956, and is generally remembered as one of the best early Native painters.

Condition: this Original Navajo Painting of Diné Woman and Sheep by Quincy Tahoma is in excellent condition

Provenance: private New Mexico collection

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

Relative Links: Navajo, Native American Paintings, Quincy Tahoma