Navajo Woman

Johnson Antonio, Navajo Woman, 1986, carved and painted cottonwood, 13 3⁄8 x 3 1⁄2 x 3 in. (34.0 x 8.9 x 7.7 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak, 1987.62

Artwork Details

Title
Navajo Woman
Artist
Date
1986
Location
Dimensions
13 3⁄8 x 3 1⁄2 x 3 in. (34.0 x 8.9 x 7.7 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak
Mediums
Mediums Description
carved and painted cottonwood
Classifications
Subjects
  • Indian — Navajo
  • Figure female — elderly — full length
Object Number
1987.62
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1987.62

Artwork Description

Johnson Antonio carves Navajo figures from cottonwood, using an axe to form a rough shape, and a pocketknife to create the detail. He paints the surface with house paint, watercolors, and dleesh, a fragile white clay used by the Navajos to paint their bodies, and sometimes adds real animal hair or horns (Chuck and Jan Rosenak, Museum of American Folk Art Encyclopedia, 1990). In Navajo Woman and Rabbit Hunter the rough surfaces reflect the harshness of survival on the slopes of New Mexico's Bisti hills.

Works by this artist (13 items)

View all artworks
Johnson Antonio, Navajo Woman, 1986, carved and painted cottonwood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak, 1987.62
Navajo Woman
Artist
Date1986
carved and painted cottonwood
On view
Johnson Antonio, Rabbit Hunter, 1986, watercolor and pencil on carved cottonwood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.44
Rabbit Hunter
Artist
Date1986
watercolor and pencil on carved cottonwood
On view
Johnson Antonio, Man With White Headband, 1985-1992, acrylic and watercolor on cottonwood; yarn, plaster fill, ink, cloth, metal, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.45.1
Man With White Headband
Artist
Date1985-1992
acrylic and watercolor on cottonwood; yarn, plaster fill, ink, cloth, metal
Not on view
Johnson Antonio, Embracing Couple, 1992, acrylic on carved cottonwood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.43
Embracing Couple
Artist
Date1992
acrylic on carved cottonwood
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

Browse All Artworks
Charlie Willeto, Male Navajo Figure, ca. 1962-1964, carved and painted wood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.342
Male Navajo Figure
Artist
Dateca. 1962-1964
carved and painted wood
On view
Tom Yazzie, Yeibichai Dancers with Medicine Man and Patient, ca. 1991-1992, carved and painted cottonwood, sand, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.103A-Q
Yeibichai Dancers with Medicine Man and Patient
Artist
Dateca. 1991-1992
carved and painted cottonwood, sand
On view
Dennis Pioche, Navajo Woman Wearing Pendleton Blanket, 1992, acrylic on carved cottonwood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.76
Navajo Woman Wearing Pendleton Blanket
Artist
Date1992
acrylic on carved cottonwood
Not on view
Enrique Rendon, St. Martin Caballero (Double figure), 1980, painted cottonwood, cloth, leather, fiber, metal, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.79
St. Martin Caballero (Double figure)
Artist
Date1980
painted cottonwood, cloth, leather, fiber, metal
On view