The Victors by western artist Howard Terpning

 
The Victors by western artist Howard Terpning.
 
Their faces blackened as a sign of victory, two Blackfeet warriors return to camp after a successful battle. Face and body paint was used for many reasons, some purely ornamental, some to provide magical protection for the wearer, some to signify the outcome of a venture. Among many plains tribes the use of black paint symbolized victory. By contrast, black paint among the Comanches signified defeat and death and was sometimes worn by the survivors as they straggled quietly back into camp with the bad news.
 
The artist explains that this is a painting of paradox: a simple composition played off against the very strong values of the foreground figures. He imagined the warriors stopping behind the hill to smear black mud or charcoal over their faces, then trotting over the rise and down to the people who waited to greet their successful return to camp, knowing by the paint that they had achieved whatever they had set out to do.
 
The Blackfeet on the northern plains were noted for their fighting skills, their ferocity in battle against traditional enemies among neighboring tribes.
(Art of Howard Terpning- Elmer Kelton)
 
Print released 1980.
offset litho, 1000 s/n
Current Availability: Sold Out at Publisher / Secondary Market Pricing Applies / Please Email for Cost.
Dimensions: 21.5" x 27"

 

Issue Price: $150.00

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