Adobe Gallery Blog

Animal dances at New Mexico pueblos are performed in the fall and winter as a celebration of thanksgiving for bountiful game. Deer, antelope, rams and buffalo are often seen in the same dance. The hunter takes on the spirit of the animal he has hunted during the year. He thanks the spirit of that animal, and he asks for good luck for next year's hunt.  Animal Dances are popular subjects for artists to paint.

Tomás Vigil presents Buffalo, Deer and Antelope Dancers accompanied by a single female dancer.  He has painted the subject in the traditional pueblo style of no ground plane or landscape features.  His works are generally primitive in a folk-art style but with vivid colors.  His attention to detail was quite well known.

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