245: CHARLES BANKS WILSON (1918-2013) RARELY SEEN LITHOGRAPH

Charles Banks Wilson (1918-2013)
Quapaw Pow Wow (1941)
The very rare image documenting a Stomp Dance at the 69th annual Quapaw Pow Wow in 1941 is signed and dated lower right, titled lower left near the edition edition listed as only 26 impressions.

To the best of our knowledge, this particular print is the first from the edition of only 26 impressions to appear at auction, or anywhere for sale that we can find. We offered this same print on June 27, 2025 where it went unsold. It is re-offered here with a lower opening bid.

According to all four major art auction record databases and entries on the major online bidding platforms it had never been up for bid before. This may be the only opportunity one has to obtain this important print, particularly in this condition. This print has never been framed.

Art that documents authentic Native American traditions, ceremonies and culture, like this Powwow that dates back to 1872, are important and desirable. Charles Banks Wilson personally bore witness to the events he portrayed. Add to this the rarity of a low edition print like this and it confirms that this image is both rare and desirable.

In his catalog of Wilson's lithographs, David hunt states, '' This subject represents a high point in Wilson's development as a printmaker. Concerned with spatial relationships, he composed the foreground in tones of black and gray, the middle ground in gray and white, and the background in shades of gray.

Wilson said, ''Generally, I was interested here in looking behind the scene. This stone, however, became a report of the powwow dance itself, as well as an experiment for me in achieving a sense of space through tone.''
Image measures 10 x 14, sheet is 13.5 x 19 inches.
Very , very good condition, the full untrimmed sheet, not laid down, no damage, stain, punctures, tears or repair. There is a wrinkle upper right margin and corresponding printer's ink where it appears the stone may have caused a depression in the paper. This is not damage or repair.
Provenance: Living estate, Overland Park, Kansas.
$2,000 - $3,000