Featured in this lot is an E. Irving Couse chromolithograph, Taos Puebloan Indian in the firelight, most likely used by the ATSF, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, circa 1920-1936. Artist's signature noted at the bottom left corner, the Santa Fe emblem on the top right corner. One of the nation's most financially successful railways, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe (ATSF), helped to nurture and sustain two colonies of artists in the West - Taos and Santa Fe - for almost forty years following their founding at the turn of the century. By providing transportation in exchange for paintings; by utilizing the paintings on calendars, brochures, menus, and train folders; by displaying the paintings in stations and ticket offices; and through the purchase of several hundred paintings from artists residing in Taos and Santa Fe, the railway helped establish northern New Mexico as an internationally recognized cultural center. E. Irving Couse (1866 – 1936) was a prominent American artist early in the 20th century and a founding member and first president of the Taos Society of Artists and is best known for his paintings of Native Americans, New Mexico, and the American Southwest. Couse was one of the six founding members of the Taos Society of Artists, and was elected first president. Elk-Foot of the Taos Indians, a Pueblo tribe, whose anglicized name was Jerry Mirabal, began posing for Couse in 1907 and was one of the painters favorite subjects because of his "physical beauty and ideal features." "Elk-Foot of the Taos Tribe", painted in the summer of 1909, is considered Couse's masterwork and is now displayed in the collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. This lithograph is in good overall condition, very light scuffing noted to matted frame edges, no other obvious marring noted. Visible art measures 11.5"L x 9.5"W, and the frame is 15.25"L x 12"W x .75"D.*

For a complete representation of condition please review pictures. Some items may have additional images, if so please visit NaaBid.com our website directly. It is the buyer’s responsibility to view each image and preview the item to determine condition, origin and age. Shipping info is clearly stated on LA and our website diretly, please do not use LA messanger for shipping quotes, rather mark@naabid.com. North American Auction Company, naabid.com 800-686-4216.