Painting of a Jemez Pueblo Harvest Dance by Emeliano Yepa [SALE PENDING B.P.]

This compelling casein painting by Emeliano Yepa captures a richly patterned and rhythmically composed scene of a Jemez Pueblo Harvest Dance. A row of nine dancers fills the background, each wearing ceremonial tablitas and moving in perfect synchrony. Their aligned footwork and the subtle sequencing of colors across their garments create a striking sense of visual rhythm that feels almost musical in its repetition and flow.

Yepa's sensitivity to pattern, a quality noted by Dorothy Dunn, is beautifully demonstrated in this work. The color arrangement of the dancers' moccasins is particularly striking. On the left, the sequence of red, white, red contrasts with the right side, where the colors alternate as white, red, white. This deliberate mirroring creates a balanced visual cadence that animates the composition and guides the viewer's eye across the painting.

In the foreground, three dancers appear in vividly multicolored outfits, each carrying a rasp or gourd rattle. Their presence brings a sense of immediacy and draws the viewer closer to the ceremonial action. The instruments they hold synchronize with the shakers used by the dancers in the back row, reinforcing the unity and rhythm of the scene.

Emeliano Yepa studied under Dorothy Dunn at The Studio of the Santa Fe Indian School from 1932 to 1937. Dunn described him as an artist whose work reflects the early days of the Pueblo Painting movement. Rather than pushing for stylistic innovation, Yepa remained committed to traditional imagery and ceremonial subjects, particularly those rooted in Jemez Pueblo. He was one of three students selected to paint murals in true fresco for The Studio and one of the residence halls, and his work was later featured in a 1953 exhibition at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

The dancers depicted are identified as "Hemis," referring to the Hopi Harvest Dance that was adopted into the ceremonial traditions of Jemez Pueblo. This blending of traditions highlights the cultural exchange and adaptation present within Pueblo communities.

Signed E. Yepa in the lower right corner, this painting is a strong example of Yepa's enduring artistic vision. It honors the ceremonial world of his community through a composition that is both precise and full of life.

Condition: excellent condition with new acid-free matting and back and framed in its original frame.

Provenance: This Painting of a Jemez Pueblo Harvest Dance by Emeliano Yepa is from a collector in Arizona.

Recommended Reading:  American Indian Painting of the Southwest and Plains Areas by Dorothy Dunn

TAGS: Jemez Pueblo; Native American Paintings, Emeliano Yepa