VERSO
Label, The University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota

A letter from Heidi Howe discussing the painting will accompany the lot.

Writing on Oscar Howe’s dance imagery, art historian Bill Anthes observed: “Howe’s art was especially suited to the movement and color of dance. His sophisticated visual vocabulary encompassed contrasting curvilinear and angular shapes, designs in which the moving figure remains a discrete focus, compositions that merge figure and ground, and patterns that convey movement as well as stillness.”

For all their dynamic energy, Howe’s paintings of dancers … are contained within the frame. Figures circle back to the center much as the repeated movements of the dance echo the round form of the ceremonial enclosure. The circle defines a community’s movement through time, always back to itself. In much the same way, Howe traveled a path that led him away from his South Dakota home, later to return as an artist of the modern world. He commanded the expressive potential of two-dimensional design and color. These were hallmarks of his modern art, as much as Howe’s mastery was grounded in Plains visual traditions and inextricably linked to community, shared history, and identity.”

Oscar Howe’s wife, Heidi, wrote the following in discussing the painting: “The double vision design originally in pictograph writing symbolized departing and arriving view of tipis, (right and inverted). The technique of lines cris-crossing is used in the painting to give more line tension and plasticity of movement of lines and at the same time objectify fore and background forms of the idea of the dancer. The geometric straight line technique evolved from the Sioux traditional meaning of straight line (in pictograph writing) it represented truth or righteousness, also from the sign language, a straight gesture of hand meant truth, and the geometric trend of Sioux design after they became plains Indians. The dancer in the War Dance reenacts his combat movements in rhythm.”

PROVENANCE
Dr. and Mrs. Fred S. Stahmann, Gallatin, Tennessee

EXHIBITED
Oscar Howe: A Retrospective Exhibition, Thomas Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1982

LITERATURE
Frederick J. Dockstader, Oscar Howe: A Retrospective Exhibition, Catalogue Raisonné, Thomas Gilcrease Museum, 1982, pp. 27, 56, illustrated

Additional Resources

• Oscar Howe’s Past Results
• View Condition Report

Condition ReportAs viewed through glass. Painting appears to be in excellent condition.

Important Notice: Statements of condition are provided as a service to potential bidders and reflect educated opinions, not facts. All painting frames are sold “as is.” The Coeur d’Alene Art Auction assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions.