The energy and spirit of the West is in full force during John Moran Auctioneers’ Art of the American Westsale. The late summer auction is a who’s who of top Native American artists and Western masters, both past and present, offering artwork in a wide range of mediums by such iconic names as Eanger Irving Couse, Maynard Dixon, Oscar Howe, Doug Hyde, Z.S. Liang, Gib Singleton, Edward Borein, Logan Maxwell Hagege, Curt Walters and many others.
Eanger Irving Couse (1866-1936), California Cypress, oil on canvas, 24 x 29 in. Estimate: $30/50,000
Among the highlights in the upcoming sale is Yanktonai Dakota artist Howe’s abstract piece Grass Dancer, a kaleidoscopic painting of pink and blue geometric forms. The painting is expected to bring in between $80,000 and $120,000. “In 1958, after Oscar Howe moved away from the traditional style taught at his boarding school, he faced criticism from a panel of non-Native jurors who claimed his art wasn’t ‘Native enough,’” notes Maranda Moran, head of sale. “By that time, Howe had developed a distinctive style that fused various influences, capturing the dynamic intersection of color and movement. Now recognized as the father of Native modernism, Howe paved the way for future generations of Native artists to explore and embrace a modern, open-minded approach.”
Lew E. Davis (1910-1979), Waterhole, ca. 1960, acrylic on artist’s canvas board, 40 x 42 in. Estimate: $6/8,000
Another piece to be on the lookout for is the 1982 sculpture Second Mesa Basket Dancer by Hyde (Nez Perce/Assiniboine/Chippewa). The piece has a presale estimate of $10,000 to $15,000. In addition, a figurative painting of a Native American man by Z.S. Liang is expected to sell for $20,000 to $30,000, while Couse’s California Cypress is estimated to fetch up to $50,000. Couse was one of the six founders of the Taos Society of Artists.
Z.S. Liang, Native American hunter, 2006, oil on canvas, 44 x 24½ in. Estimate: $20/30,000
“In 1904, Eanger Irving Couse embarked on a train journey from Washington to California, a trip that likely inspired his painting California Cypress,” says Moran. “Despite being a long-time resident and a founder of the Taos Society of Artists, Couse’s documented travels suggest that he did not spend much time in California. The striking cypress trees he encountered might have influenced this painting, as their distinctive presence made the area a stop on his tour of the West Coast.”
Oscar Howe (Yanktonai Dakota, 1915-1983), Grass Dancer, casein on paper, 21 x 14½ in. Estimate: $80/120,000Moran continues, “Another standout [in the sale] is Dan Namingha’s large painting titled Symbolism #3, which comes with a letter from his wife detailing the painting’s intricate meanings. I’m also drawn to Lew Davis’ 1960 painting Waterhole.” Davis was known for his landscape-figure, genre and still life painting. His painting Waterhole, featuring bright orange and red horses contrasted against saturated blue waters, is estimated at $6,000 to $8,000.
The Art of the American West sale will be held on Tuesday, September 10, in Monrovia, California. —
John Moran Auctioneers’ Art of the American West
September 10, 2024
John Moran Auctioneers
145 E. Walnut Avenue,
Monrovia, CA 91016
(626) 793-1833, www.johnmoran.com
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