1970S LITHOGRAPH ESKIMO HUNTER BY HENRY NAPARTUK

1970S LITHOGRAPH ESKIMO HUNTER BY HENRY NAPARTUK

Henry Napartuk, 1932 to 1985, Eskimo Inuit artist. A 1970s black stonecut print on paper of an Eskimo hunter in a boat and a walrus. Handsigned in the lower left. Titled Eskimo and Walrus in the lower right. Provenance: TC&TC The Collective and The Collection NYC. White mat, white frame. Collectible Native Ethnic Tribal Graphic Art. His works are part of dozens of international collections including Winnipeg Art Gallery’s Zazelenchuk. Vintage Canadian Native American Folk Art. First Nations Cultural Treasures. Napartuk learned how to carve from his father, Josie, who was one of the community’s earliest sculptors. He began making prints after Noah Meeko, his brother-in-law, and Noah’s wife, Lucy Meeko, returned from a seven week workshop held in Puvirnituq in 1972. The couple were trained in various printmaking techniques and returned to Kuujjuaraapik with the intention of spreading their knowledge and perhaps setting up a print shop in their own community. Under the tutelage of the Meekos, Napartuk produced several pieces for the Arctic Québec print collection of 1973. There is a similarity of styles among the Arctic Quebec printmakers; however certain distinct talents are emerging. Henry Napartuk of Great Whale River is one such talent. An outstanding sculptor, Henry Napartuk learned the technique of printmaking from Lucy and Noah Meeko. His first prints were tentative emulations of their style but as he became more sure of himself in the new medium, there was a sudden, dramatic emergence into the bold style of the Studies in this collection. Ironically, his style is now dominating the Meekos’, who are also turning to abstract expression (Myers [Mitchell 1973).

Dimensions: Frame 12 3/4 x 16 3/4 in. Plate 5 1/8 x 8 3/4 in. All measurements are approximate.