Ethelia

Ethelia, 1976 Oil Pastel by R.C. Gorman. An intimate and deeply spiritual work from Gorman’s early period, this oil pastel depicts a Navajo woman in a kneeling pose, her body language conveying tenderness and vulnerability. She holds a small ceramic vessel adorned with traditional painted designs, suggesting themes of motherhood, cultural continuity, and sacred feminine power. The figure is rendered in soft coral and cream tones with delicate line work suggesting form and movement. The minimal background keeps focus on the figure and her relationship to the vessel. This early work showcases Gorman’s gift for capturing emotional depth and spiritual essence. An important acquisition for collectors of Gorman’s foundational works and early experimentation with medium.