Pablita Velarde Original Painting of Deer dated 1977 [SOLD]

This original painting of a deer was created by Pablita Velarde of Santa Clara Pueblo. While ceremonial dancers occupied the majority of Velarde's works, she did direct her attention toward wildlife on occasion. Many of her animal figures were, like those of her contemporaries, influenced by prehistoric Mimbres designs. With this piece, Velarde presented a realistic, straightforward depiction of a single deer.

The deer stands in the center of the image. It is depicted in profile, with a serene facial expression. Velarde's gray and white mineral earth pigments work perfectly for this particular animal. The landscape in which the deer stands is, by high desert standards, rich with plant life—over a dozen small green plants appear on the ground, and taller plants grow along the edges of the scene. Further into the background, geometric shapes in earthy tan tones appear, just as they would in Velarde's ceremonial dance scenes. This painting is simple, strong, and beautifully composed.

The painting is signed Pablita Velarde and dated 1977 in lower right. It is framed in a wood frame, which is mounted on a fabric backing within a larger wood frame. This was the style preferred by Velarde and her daughter Helen Hardin during this era.

Pablita Velarde (1918-2006) Tse Tsan - Golden Dawn was an innovative and influential artist from Santa Clara Pueblo. Velarde was one of the first full-time female students in Dorothy Dunn's art class at the Santa Fe Indian School, where she studied alongside Tonita Peña. These two women are regarded as the first Native American women to support themselves as painters, but it's not just because of this that they are remembered so fondly. It's because of the quality of their works that they have remained so visible in the many years since they have passed. Velarde's works are included in many prominent public and private collections, and she is generally regarded as a significant figure in the world of Native American art. Velarde passed away in 2006.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: this Pablita Velarde Original Painting of Deer dated 1977 is from a private New Mexico collection

Recommended Reading: Woman's Work: The Art of Pablita Velarde by Sally Hyer

TAGS: Native American Paintings, Santa Clara Pueblo, Tonita Peña, watercolor, Helen Hardin, Navajo Nation, Pablita Velarde