This is the first of a wonderful pair of gouache and watercolor portraits of Taos Pueblo Indians that Imhof painted in 1929, the year he moved permantently to Taos. The colors are still remarkably fresh in these historic works. This piece,like the following one is a watercolor and gouache on paper, size: 21 in. x 14 in. sight, 29 x 21 1/2 in. framed, signed and dated lower left. The piece is also titled and dated on attached card to the verso.Joseph Imhof and his wife settled in Taos in 1929. Joe had many close friends among the Taos Indians which he used a models for many of his paintings. In their 1998 biograph of him, Nancy Reily and Lucille Enix state that during the first year the Imhof's lived in Taos they finished a small room above his studio where visiting Indians could stay with them. Thus in his home he would get to know them personally. "He always said he could not paint a person until he knew his characteristics. The Indians said that no Taos artist except Joe could paint Indian eyes. His interpretation of hands was also beautifully done". His neighbor, said much the same, stating that "Imhof used to have his models live in his home before he attempted to put them on canvas..... he had to know the man before he could paint him. The Indians said that Imhof put a man's soul in his eyes. They said that the eyes reveal the inside of a man." Take a close look at "Santiago's" eyes in this painting. They are full of expression and life and tell us something about this person who sat in front of Imhof's brush so long ago!

Overall good to very good condition. Colors are bright with no staining or paper toning noted. Not examined out of the frame.