Untitled San Ildefonso Pueblo Painting of a Hunter by Julian Martinez [SOLD]

This lovely untitled watercolor painting was made by San Ildefonso Pueblo artist Julian Martinez.  Julian is, of course, best known as the husband and frequent collaborator of Maria Martinez, but anyone with an appreciation for early pueblo paintings likely knows that he also created wonderful works on paper.  This piece is a classic pueblo “flat style” image. This classification fits the majority of Martinez’ paintings, though he did occasionally wander off into more abstract territories. This simple and strong image is a particularly striking work that will appeal to those who appreciate traditional pueblo imagery.

Martinez’ subject here is a male dancer.  He’s depicted in profile, as is to be expected, wearing ceremonial clothing.  He’s pictured mid-stride, allowing the viewer to see his clothing in detail. Martinez outlined the figure in pencil, and did not return to retrace his outlines in black paint the way that most of his peers did.  He filled his outlines with opaque blocks of color, carefully, leaving his pencil lines in place. His approach works well, as do his strong but balanced color choices. Notable, too, is the carefully detailed presentation of the dancer’s moccasins, bow, arrows and quiver.  This is one of the strongest Julian Martinez paintings we’ve handled recently.

The painting is signed “Julian Martinez” in lower right.  It is framed in a simple wood framed with subtle carved designs.

Julián Martinez (1885-1943) Pocano  “(Coming of the Spirits”) was an artist who was born, lived most of his life, and died at the small but artistically rich San Ildefonso Pueblo. He is perhaps best known for painting designs onto the pottery vessels created by his wife—the famous San Ildefonso potter Maria Martinez.  He painted works on paper, too, and did so successfully despite receiving no formal art education. He was the father of Popovi Da and the grandfather of Tony Da, both of whom went on to become famous and successful artists themselves. Martinez was an important part of two major artistic movements: the beginnings of both black-on-black San Ildefonso pottery and traditional “flat style” pueblo painting.

Martinez’ works on paper are considered most rare, simply because he didn't have very much time to paint.  Besides painter and pottery designer, his various occupations included farmer, laborer, Museum of New Mexico janitor, and Governor of San Ildefonso Pueblo.  According to Jeanne Snodgrass’ American Indian Painters: A Biographical Directory, Martinez began painting around 1920.  He mostly painted traditional pueblo “flat style” depictions of pueblo dancers, but occasionally strayed away from tradition and towards abstract symbolism.  Martinez' paintings were among those selected by Mary Jane Colter to decorate La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He received several commissions for murals, at the Santa Fe Indian School; Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado; and the School for Advanced Research in Santa Fe.

Condition: this Untitled San Ildefonso Pueblo Painting of a Hunter by Julian Martinez is in excellent condition

Provenance: private New Mexico collection

Reference: Snodgrass, Jeanne. American Indian Painters: A Biographical Directory

Relative Links: San Ildefonso Pueblo, Maria Martinez, Popovi Da, pottery, paintings, Julián Martinez