Noon Meditation

Noon Meditation, a 1972 lithograph by R.C. Gorman, represents the artist’s early mastery of intimate, spiritually resonant imagery. Three figures, rendered as Navajo women, sit in close contact wrapped in pale, cream-colored blankets or shawls, heads slightly bowed in meditation or prayer. The composition is rendered almost entirely in sepia tones and warm grays, with minimal color—only a soft blue horizontal line suggesting sky or landscape at mid-composition. The figures’ forms are voluminous and soft, their faces drawn with remarkable sensitivity and introspection. Gorman’s line work is delicate yet assured, creating a mood of profound peace and spiritual centering. This early work demonstrates the artist’s deep engagement with themes of Navajo spiritual life and the power of collective contemplation. A remarkable early piece for collectors tracing Gorman’s career arc and his commitment to honoring indigenous spiritual practice.