Standing Indian, 1972
Fritz Scholder
“It’s a promise. I will NEVER paint a Native American figure!”
Strong statement from Fritz Scholder, renowned Native American artist.
Scholder believed portraying the American Indian in art had devolved into a romantic cliché and stereotyped role. He fiercely resisted this until…
An American Portrait
Fritz Scholder
Fritz Scholder broke that promise!
His revolutionary paintings broke away from these images and forever changed the concept of “Indian artist”.
Indian with Dog
Fritz Scholder
So simple and so powerful !
Thank you!
I don’t think there is anything particularly “revolutlonary” about his art. It’s just another variation on a theme regarding portraying Indian figures. Just look at “Indian with Dog”. What could be more cliche than suspender -held jeans and a concho belt? His work just strikes me as a sort of mashup of pop coloring and poorly executed drawing. It’s as if he’s trying to have his cake and eat it too philosophically, saying something like “I said I’d never paint Indians, but I’ve come to the conclusion that I have to, to make a living, so I’ll just paint these sloppy, ill-rendered paintings that just sort of resemble Indians, so I can claim to have kept my promise.” There seems to be llittle or nothing behind the images. He just got lucky with the critics and the public and came to be regarded as “revolutionary.”
If you want to see some real “Indian art”, look at the amazing paintings by Howard Terpning, who is held in high regard by both the public and the native people (largely Blackfoot and Crow) whose authentic history he portrays in his paintings. Not only are they beautiful but they are deeply based on the daily lives and spiritual beliefs of these people. Scholder’s paintings are a joke when compared with Terpning’s.
Interesting that he felt the need to break away.
Kirby, yet again you’ve introduced me to a fascinating artist. While indebted to Matisse, I think his art is original and bold. As ever, thank you!
Linda