Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 0370-1035   CAS 0370-1035; Painting
Category Visual Arts
Object Name Painting
Culture Navajo
Global Region North America
Country USA
State/Prov./Dist. New Mexico
County Santa Fe
Other Geographic Data City: Santa Fe
Maker's Name Harrison Begay (Haskay Yahneyah) (1914 or 1917-2012)
Date of Manufacture 1938
Collection Name Elkus Collection (Native American)
Materials Opaque watercolor on paper
Description Painting on white paper entitled "Navajo Circle Dance," depicting group of Navajo men dancing in circle with their arms interlocked; All men are dressed in moccasins, jeans or calico pants, shirts, and either headband or wide-brimmed hat; Most men wear silver concho belts; Man in center of circle is playing Navajo pottery drum; Several stylized plants are in foreground and at sides; Signature "H. Begay" is very faintly painted in gray paint near lower right corner (second signature "Harrison Begay" written in pencil in lower right corner has been erased); Artist's name, tribe, and title of painting are handwritten in pencil on reverse; "The Studio, U.S. Indian School, Santa Fe, New Mexico" is stamped on reverse.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 34.6, Length = 27.4