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VintageLarge Pastel Painting of Native American Ceremonial Dancer SignedChristoffersen; circa 1970 -1990\'s
Thiswell drawn and brilliantly colored original pastel painting depicts ayoung male Native American ceremonial dancer with a paint decorateddrum in a dramatic Southwestern mountain landscape. This work veryeffectively speaks to the deep spiritual connection with the naturalworld inherent in American Indian religious beliefs. This painting isa true high point in the body of work by Gerda Christoffersen (Denmark/Canada) (1917-2012), whose early work (1940\'s- 60\'s), although well drawn,seemed to promote a rosy stereotyped version of Native children andadults in what is called her \"Papoose\" style. Her earlywork was heavily reproduced in print form and postcards, and soldextensively in Western National Parks and elsewhere in the 1950\'s. This painting seems to signal an evolution in Christoffersen\'s workfrom a commercial orientation to a more spiritual, emotional andrespectful vision of her subjects. Perhaps, this evolution reflectshow American society glossed over our brutal and complicated historywith Native peoples and is, hopefully, now becoming more aware of thereal history and more respectful of Native American cultures.
GerdaChristoffersen was born in Denmark in 1917, and by the 1930\'s wasstudying art in Alberta, Canada with noted English/Canadian painterand educator, Henry George Glyde (1906-98), probably in Calgary orBanff. Gerda was a prolific artist, studying and focusing onAmerican Indian cultures in both Western Canada and in the AmericanWest for the rest of her long artistic career. She died in 2012 atthe age of 95.
Condition:Excellent mint condition w/ no defects or restoration. Modern framingwith non-glare glass is also in excellent condition.
Dimensions: Pastel painting: 24\" tall x 18\" wide. Framing: 31-5/8\"tall x 25-5/16\" wide.
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