Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 0370-0972   CAS 0370-0972; Painting
Category Visual Arts
Object Name Painting
Culture Navajo
Global Region North America
Country USA
State/Prov./Dist. Arizona
County Apache
Other Geographic Data Community: Wide Ruins
Maker's Name Little Shorty (ca. 1895-1980)
Date of Manufacture ca. 1948
Collection Name Elkus Collection (Native American)
Materials Opaque watercolor on paper
Description Untitled painting on white paper depicting Navajo man pulling pine tree; Man is pulling on reins to direct black mule to pull on chain that is wrapped around trunk of tree; Shovel, pick, and axe lie at base of tree and barbed wire fence is in foreground; Subjects are shown against plain white background with very little attempt at perspective; Painting is unsigned. Little Shorty was Jimmy Toddy’s (Beatien Yazz) uncle and the father of Philip Shorty. He was a lifelong resident of Wide Ruins and painted briefly ca. 1947-1950.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 31.4, Length = 25.5