BILL REID, O.B.C., R.C.A. (1920-1998) HAIDA
Dogfish Woman Banner, 1991
silkscreen on wove cotton fabric, 34.5 x 76 in (87.6 x 193 cm)
with artist's Wasgo (Haida Seawolf) stamp and signed, "Bill Reid" in the plate;
editioned "4/8" in pencil.

Provenance
Private Collection, Quebec;
Estate of the above.

This work is one from the small edition of 8 that was designed to accompany the sculpture The Spirit of Haida Gwaii to illustrate the crew present on the sculpture. Reid described the figure in The Spirit of Haida Gwaii, as follows:

And here she is, the Dogfish Woman, still the ranking woman of noble birth, yielding no place to the pretty Bear Mother. In spite of her great cheeks, with gills like monstrous scars, her headdress reflecting the pointed shape of the dogfish head, and her grotesque labret - in spite of all these, the most desirable and fascinating woman from mythtime [sic]. More magical than the Mouse Woman, as mysterious as the deep ocean waters which support the sleek, sinuous fish from whom she derives her power, she stands aloof from the rest, the enormous concentration of her thoughts smoldering [sic] smoky dreams behind her inward-looking eyes" [1].

1. Bill Reid as quoted in the entry for Bill Reid, Dogfish Woman Banner, Bill Reid Gallery, cat. no. 2008.5.1.5, https://billreidgallery.pastperfectonline.com/archive/4C98A066-ABF1-4473-806C-517433572821