Description
Begay painted a timeless, peaceful and gentle world, recognizing only the beauty in the Navajo way of life. His traditional Navajo scenes, rendered in soft tones, speak of peace and serenity. The faces of the people in his pictures are happy and the subject matter is always pleasant. The colors are soft and pastel in tint, a style of painting Begay used his entire career.
The young Navajo girls are wearing traditional clothing with beautiful Navajo jewelry as they race their ponies across the land. Harrison includes the traditional elements of Navajo weaving in the saddle blankets placed under the saddles of the horses. It seems to be a perfect day for an enjoyable friendly race with the placement of fluffy clouds and birds in the sky. The Yei rainbow guardian hovering over the young girls is presented as their protection. Begay often used a Yei rainbow guardian in his work.
This original painting is signed in the lower left and in the lower right – Haskay Yahne Yah and Harrison Begay.
This beautiful art work is protected with Museum Glass, an anti-reflection picture framing glass with conservation grade UV protection. With its nearly invisible finish, it effectively blocks up to 99% of harmful indoor and outdoor UV light rays so framed pieces remain clearer and brighter for longer. It is the best glazing option available for art, photographs and other important personal keepsakes.
The matting on this picture is an acid free matte(s) for long term protection and to enhance the picture. Acid free mattes provide 75-100 years of protection against matte burn and brown marks which can decrease the value of a painting. The matting colors were selected to draw the eye into the picture complementing the artist’s selected brush work or towards a particular key element of the piece.
Condition: Excellent – original condition – The artist has written on the back of the painting in pencil “Original acrylic color, Horse Racing, Traditional Indian Painting, 1982.”
Provenance: Purchased from a private collector in Arkansas
