Klah Tso
Encyclopedia
Klah Tso (mid-19th c.–early-20th c.) was a Navajo
painter. He is considered a pioneer Navajo easel painter.
, or possibly Indian Wells
. He was a traditional singer.
Klah Tso also adopted a variety of Western materials such as oil, gouache, tempera, and colored pencil. He painted representational, narratives works on brown cotton cloth.
Several of Klah Tso's works are in the collections of the National Anthropological Archives
. The Ride portrays a line of Navajo riders following a man with a ceremonial staff. There is no background but the horses are kicking up a cloud of dust on the tan-dyed cotton cloth background. While some of his works are secular in subject matter, many portray Navajo ceremonies.
Jeanne O. Snodgrass wrote that he created, "one of the loveliest known early American Indian paintings" to be seen by non-Natives. His work is also in the Museum of Northern Arizona
, Katherine Harvey Collection in Flagstaff, Arizona
.
Navajo people
The Navajo of the Southwestern United States are the largest single federally recognized tribe of the United States of America. The Navajo Nation has 300,048 enrolled tribal members. The Navajo Nation constitutes an independent governmental body which manages the Navajo Indian reservation in the...
painter. He is considered a pioneer Navajo easel painter.
Background
Klah Tso was also known as Big Lefthanded, Big Lefthanded Chou, or Old Hostin Claw. He should not be confused with Hastiin Klah, the Navajo weaver, or Choh, the Navajo graphic artist. He lived near Tuba City, ArizonaTuba City, Arizona
Tuba City is a census-designated place in Coconino County, Arizona, United States. The population was 8,225 at the 2000 census. It is the Dine' Nation's largest community, slightly larger than Shiprock, New Mexico. The Hopi town of Moenkopi lies directly to its southeast.The name of the town...
, or possibly Indian Wells
Indian Wells, Arizona
Indian Wells is an unincorporated community in Navajo County, Arizona, United States. It is also the name of the local Navajo chapter, legislative districts within the Navajo Nation Council...
. He was a traditional singer.
Artwork
From around 1902 to 1915, Klah Tso created equestrian and ceremonial paintings using natural pigments applied with a stick. The Navajo agent and trader, Matthew M. Murphy collected 29 of Klah Tso's drypaintings, which were believed to be created between 1905 to 1912.Klah Tso also adopted a variety of Western materials such as oil, gouache, tempera, and colored pencil. He painted representational, narratives works on brown cotton cloth.
Several of Klah Tso's works are in the collections of the National Anthropological Archives
National Anthropological Archives
The National Anthropological Archives and Human Studies Film Archives are a collection of historical and contemporary documents maintained by the Smithsonian Institution, which document the history of anthropology and the world's peoples and cultures...
. The Ride portrays a line of Navajo riders following a man with a ceremonial staff. There is no background but the horses are kicking up a cloud of dust on the tan-dyed cotton cloth background. While some of his works are secular in subject matter, many portray Navajo ceremonies.
Jeanne O. Snodgrass wrote that he created, "one of the loveliest known early American Indian paintings" to be seen by non-Natives. His work is also in the Museum of Northern Arizona
Museum of Northern Arizona
The Museum of Northern Arizona is a museum in Flagstaff, Arizona, USA, that was established as a repository for Native American artifacts and natural history specimens from the Colorado Plateau.The museum was founded in 1928 by zoologist Dr. Harold S...
, Katherine Harvey Collection in Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff is a city located in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2010, the city's population was 65,870. The population of the Metropolitan Statistical Area was at 134,421 in 2010. It is the county seat of Coconino County...
.
Further reading
- Wyman, Leland Clifton. "Big Lefthanded, Pioneer Navajo Artist." Plateau. Number 40, Summer 1967: 1-13.