Modern Individualism: Paintings by Oscar Howe before the Annual National Indian Painting Competition at the Philbrook Museum of Art, 1958
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Date
2010-09
Authors
Doughty, Elizabeth Lynn, 1984-
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
In 1958 Yanktonai Sioux painter Oscar Howe's (1915-1983) submission to the
Annual National Indian Painting Competition at the Philbrook Museum of Art was
rejected for deviating too far from the established conventions of "traditional Indian
painting." Howe's innovative use of style and his subsequent declarations against the
premises of his rejection established the artist as a major figure in the development of
Native American painting in the twentieth century. The existing literature on Howe is
predominantly biographical and lacks contextual or stylistic analysis. In particular, an
under-analyzed relationship is prevalent between his mature style and his early works.
This thesis aims to address the social, cultural, educational, political, and stylistic
influences that prepared the artist to evolve the formal aspects of his painting. This
discussion will expand the discourse on Howe by revealing trends of continuity in the
artist's transition from his earlier style to an experimental style and showing that neither
is without the influence of the other.
Description
ix, 68 p. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number.
Keywords
Howe, Oscar, 1915-1983