Madeira

Madeira, an oil pastel by R.C. Gorman, depicts a kneeling Navajo woman in a moment of serene contemplation. She is draped in an elaborate magenta and pink striped blanket of exceptional delicacy, its rippling folds creating dynamic visual rhythm. Her long black hair flows beneath the textile as she kneels in profile against a soft pastel sky of rose and lavender tones. Surrounding her blooms a profusion of golden-yellow and orange desert flowers with verdant foliage, their warm saffron hues harmonizing perfectly with the rich palette of her textiles. Gorman’s masterful pastel technique captures both the textile patterns and the luminous quality of high desert light. An exquisite example of his figure studies enriched by cultural dress and botanical elements.