Waldo Mootzka (Hopi Pueblo, ca. 1903–1940). <em>Fall Corn Dance</em>, 1938. Opaque watercolor over graphite on textured wove paper, 13 x 20 1/16 in. (33 x 51 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Dick S. Ramsay Fund, 40.91. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum Photograph, 40.91_PS11.jpg)

Waldo Mootzka (Hopi Pueblo, ca. 1903–1940). Fall Corn Dance, 1938. Opaque watercolor over graphite on textured wove paper, 13 x 20 1/16 in. (33 x 51 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Dick S. Ramsay Fund, 40.91. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum Photograph, 40.91_PS11.jpg)

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Fall Corn Dance

Arts of the Americas

This painting depicts the performers of the Fall Corn Dance. Waldo Mootza omitted the background in his images, thereby emphasizing the figures while adding a timeless quality. His paintings nevertheless mirror reality, as seen here in the fine details of the woven designs on the dancers’ skirts, the body decorations on the clowns, and the raised banner over the leaders.

Mootza was one of several artists who incorporated traditional Native painting styles from hides, pottery, and murals with the European-derived medium of watercolor to create a new Native American art form.

MAKER Waldo Mootzka, Hopi Pueblo, ca. 1903–1940

CULTURE Hopi Pueblo

MEDIUM Opaque watercolor over graphite on textured wove paper

Place Made: Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States

DATES 1938

DIMENSIONS 13 x 20 1/16 in. (33 x 51 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Arts of the Americas

ACCESSION NUMBER 40.91

CREDIT LINE Dick S. Ramsay Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION "Fall Corn Dance" is an opaque watercolor over graphite drawing on a textured wove paper. The artist's signature, "Mootzka", is located at the bottom right corner of the image in black watercolor. The media is generally in good condition but there is some cracking in the dark blue skirts, the yellow stripes of the flag, the green in the feather headdresses, and in most of the red areas. There is also cracking in the brown drum and belt of the figure in pink. An previous acidic mat caused an orange-brown mat burn around the image.

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Waldo Mootzka (Hopi Pueblo, ca. 1903–1940). Fall Corn Dance, 1938. Opaque watercolor over graphite on textured wove paper, 13 x 20 1/16 in. (33 x 51 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Dick S. Ramsay Fund, 40.91. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum Photograph, 40.91_PS11.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 40.91_PS11.jpg. Brooklyn Museum Photograph, 2022

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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Fall Corn Dance

Arts of the Americas

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