Navajo Woman St I

Navajo Woman St I is a striking 1977 lithograph by R.C. Gorman—the first state in an important series exploring the profile portrait of a Navajo woman. She is rendered in three-quarter profile, her head held high with quiet nobility, dark hair bound with white wrappings, and adorned with turquoise drop earrings. Her white or cream-colored garment is suggested with minimal line work, while cross-hatching and tonal variations in the background create a sense of dimensional space. The composition exemplifies Gorman’s gift for capturing the spirit of his subjects through gesture and line, celebrating both Navajo beauty and artistic mastery. This state variation offers collectors a window into the artist’s creative process and the lithographic medium’s evolution during a prolific decade.