Description:
Watercolor on paper. Signed l.r.: Pop Chalee, Stamped u.r.: PLANCHE 43.
From: American Indian Painters, Vol. 2, p. 6: The first time we saw Pop-Chalee's pictures, we had the strong impression that there was something in her art that was not merely North American Indian, something more than the usual Asiatic quality that is part of the Indian's heritage. There was, it seemed to us, some subtle flavor of the ancient Orient, something reminiscent of Hindu and Persian miniatures. Imagination! we thought. Then we learned that Pop-Chalee's mother was, indeed, a native of India. Her father was a member of the distinguished Lujan family of Taos. Pop-Chalee was brought up in Taos, and has never seen the land of her mother, who cam to the United States at the age of seven. She was educated at Santa Fe at the Indian School and studies art under Miss Dorothy Dunn. Intelligent and interested in many things, she has also studied arts and crafts, and the culture of many Indian tribes and peoples. Of late, she has done some radio work that she finds interesting. Her painting was successful from the beginning; its suave delicacy made a strong appeal to the Santa Fe colony. The beauty of the artist and her sex brought he a good deal of publicity, and she has been acclaimed -- with a little too much enthusiasm -- as one of the finest Indian artists of the day. Her paintings are very interesting and very decorative, and highly personalized; a courtly elegance characterizes them. She delights in painting animals and trees, tall, slender trees that belong in Paradise, with delicately curved branches like those one sees in Persian paintings and embroideries. Her deer, with their totally unreal, elongated, slim legs, and horns, leap in a rhythm that is at once lively and langorous. Her rabbits' tails are as dainty as a plume from the Rue de la Paix. Even the quills on her porcupines stand out like a rich nimbus. Her color is her own and purely decorative. She wisely paints her deer, horses, etc. pink or green or whatever tint suits her designs. She is fond of black backgrounds that heighten her Oriental effects. (Collection, Oscar Brousse Jacobson)