My Dad

My Dad, 1966, lithograph by R.C. Gorman. This moving portrait presents an elder Navajo man rendered in sepia and brown tones with remarkable psychological depth. Gorman captures not only the weathered features—the lined face, the strong nose, the knowing expression—but also the dignity, wisdom, and quiet strength that comes with age and life experience. The artist employs fine cross-hatching to model the form and create volume, particularly around the eyes and face, generating a sense of three-dimensionality and presence. The work is an intimate study in portraiture, a tribute to paternal figure and Navajo manhood, and demonstrates Gorman’s early mastery of the lithographic medium in rendering human character and emotion.