Ted Claus Mythological Hopi Painting - Guardian Snake Spirits - 1975 Oil on Canvas P3104
This psychedelic work comes with a compelling narrative, that of a German-American man identifying so closely with Native American culture that he made it the subject of his most impassioned paintings. Many of these were reproduced as prints at the time. Visionary and even trippy as they are, they cannot be dismissed as mere fantasy. Painted shortly before his death, they represent the culmination of a life-long spiritual quest.
Art measures 20" x 24". Frame 28" x 32".
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Ted Claus (died 1976) was a German refugee, his father was Jewish and killed by the Nazis. He served in WW2 as an interpreter. After divorcing his first wife he moved from NY to New Mexico. He lived with the Navajo and Hopi, and was made an honorary Indian and named Red Beard. He studied at the Art Students League in NY and was a fashion illustrator in the late 40s early 50s, and was friends with the photographer Richard Avedon. He was interested in Native Americans all his life, in their spirituality and way of life. He hated the rat race. He became a Baha'i. He mostly worked as a fine artist, but sometimes as an illustrator to make ends meet. He passed away of a heart attack in 1976.
