Uncredited Hispano Artist(s),

likely Elidio Gonzales

Chair

About 1930s

Pine

23” W x 35” H x 18¾” D

About this artwork

There are a number of woodworking techniques seen in this chair, which was likely made by Elidio Gonzales at the Taos Vocational School, which functioned as a New Deal-era workshop. It was made to furnish (along with its identical twin) the historic McKinley County Courthouse, built in 1938. The exposed joinery is done in the mortise and tenon technique. The linework on the top rail of the chair back, and the apron of the chair seat, showcase two different styles of groove carving. There are rounded forms and sharp angles, curved contours and straight lines, repeating elements and a variety of forms. Gonzales (or the artist or artists) took every opportunity to elaborate on the basic chair design to create a symphony of patterns.

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Gallup’s New Deal art collection consists of over 120 objects created, purchased, or donated from 1933 to 1942 through New Deal federal art programs administered by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to support artists during the Great Depression.

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