2024 Coeur d’Alene Art Auction / Lot 120
120
Don Oelze (b. 1965)
Raiders Road, Old Mexico (2024)
oil on canvas
40 × 42 inches
53 × 55 × 4 inches (framed)
signed lower left
The artist writes, “Throughout the 19th century, the Apache Indians asserted dominance over the US-Mexico border, marking a profound clash of cultures. Renowned as fierce warriors and raiders, the mere mention of Apaches struck fear into Mexican farmers, ranchers, and villagers, synonymous with theft and frequent violence. In my artwork, I depict these Apache raiders, laden with plunder, traversing a rugged mountain pass toward the border. Along this perilous route, the Mexicans have erected a humble shrine, seeking blessings and protection from dreaded encounters with the so called Apache menace.”