Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 0370-1056   CAS 0370-1056; 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 Beatien Yazz (Beatian Yazz, Jimmy Toddy) (b. 1928)
Date of Manufacture ca. early 1940s
Collection Name Elkus Collection (Native American)
Materials Opaque watercolor on paper
Description Untitled painting on cream-colored paper depicting single image of a Navajo man impersonating Talking God, the principal Navajo deity, as he appears in numerous Navajo ceremonies and dances; Figure is dressed in black pants, rust-colored shirt, white deerskin cape with spruce bough neck ruff, and white leather face mask with crown of 12 eagle feathers; Figure is set against plain background with no attempt at perspective; Signature "Beatien Yazz" is printed in black ink in lower right corner.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 26.0, Length = 30.7