The San Ildefonso Self-Taught Group, was an art movement from 1900–1935 and group of Native American artists primarily from the San Ildefonso Pueblo in New Mexico. The group consisting of Tonita Peña, Julian Martinez, Alfonso Roybal, Abel Sanchez, Crecencio Martinez, Encarnación Peña and others. This group was the first known Native American easel painting group in the American Southwest.
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History
Edgar Lee Hewett, a professor of archaeology and the director of the Laboratory of Anthropology in Santa Fe, was working closely with locals from the San Ildefonso pueblo to excavate, when he claims to have "discovered" their ability to draw and paint in watercolor. Hewett encouraged the production of art work from Native American artists and connected them to the financial support of white patrons.
The artwork is often composed of the subject matter, Native American ways of life. The work uses flat and using bright colors. It was celebrated as an American way of contemporary abstraction. And artists that tried to veer way from that style were discouraged by their patrons.
Critics
Many white Americans became involved in an effort to promote Native American arts within white social circles during the early 20th century. Critique of the San Ildefonso Self-Taught Group can be found within the framework of studying "traditional" Native American art, versus "White patronage" supported art of Native American art.