Lot 95
Fritz William Scholder (American - Mission/Luiseno, 1937-2005). Untitled print, dated "8-25". Signed in pencil at lower right. A wonderful rendering of a wolf's head in profile by Fritz Scholder. Scholder had a wonderful way of creating captivating images of his subjects that while relatively minimalist in manner, still manage to convey great meaning and character. In this composition, for example, Scholder only presents the head of a wolf; however, the animal's determined demeanor is evident and the wolf carries great symbolic meaning. Figuring prominently in Native American mythology, wolves are regarded as medicine beings and are associated with hunting, strength, courage, and loyalty. Size of image: 4.375" L x 3.875" W (11.1 cm x 9.8 cm) Size of matte: 14.5" L x 13.6" W (36.8 cm x 34.5 cm)
Furthermore, the Pueblo peoples link wolves to the six directional guardians, and Zuni artisans create stone wolf fetishes for protection, believing that they provide healing and hunting powers. What's more, many Northwest Coast tribes honor wolves in their creation stories; the Kwakiutl, for example, believe their first ancestors were transformed from wolves into men.
Fritz Scholder is best known for creating powerful depictions of Native Americans that depart from stereotypes. Interestingly, although Scholder was enrolled as a member of the Luiseno tribe, he oftentimes claimed that he was not actually Indian. Nevertheless, his art demonstrated a refreshing rejection of sentimental, romantic portrayals of indigenous peoples. In his words, "I have painted the Indian real, not red." He based his imagery on actual historical research. For example, Scholder revealed that his painting of a Native American wrapped in an American flag, an image that has become iconic, was based on "19th-century prison photographs of Indians dressed in surplus flags in lieu of their confiscated tribal regalia." In addition to the meaningful political messages of his art, Scholder's style, with its kinetic brushwork and vibrant colors, have truly set him apart. Various art historians have described Scholder's style as a fusion of Pop Art and Abstract Expressionism. Scholder, however, referred to himself an "American expressionist" who celebrated paint and what it can do. In his words, "Paint drips, it smears. It's not because I'm trying to fool anyone into thinking this is a three-dimensional object on a two-dimensional surface ..."
Provenance: ex-private Bishop Family Trust collection, the Trust of the late Bill Bishop, a noted antiquarian with shops in Scottsdale, Arizona and Allenspark, Colorado, USA, acquired before 2010
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#174427
- Condition: Signed and dated in pencil below the image, outside the plate mark. Print is set in a white matte. It has not been examined outside the shrink wrap but appears to be in excellent condition.
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