Maynard Dixon (1875-1946),Christmas Eve Procession, Taos New Mexico, 1931, oil on canvasboard, 15 15/16 x 19 ¾ inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art,gift of Herald R. Clark.
Christmas Eve worshippers bundled against the cold are silhouetted against the walls of the old Taos Pueblo, which are lit up by torches and bonfires. The crowd on the ground and the spectators on the walls watch as the Nativity is reenacted in a traditional procession. The snow in the foreground shimmers softly in the firelight. There is a sense of religious intensity and mystery in this evocative painting. Maynard Dixon and his family spent several months in the art center of Taos, New Mexico, in 1931 and 1932. Dixon produced many paintings and sketches during this time, including landscapes and character studies of local people. Note: This description of Dixon’s lived experience in Taos was composed by Paul Anderson, our esteemed colleague who passed away earlier this year. We honor the memory of Paul’s friendship, superb prose, masterful gallery designs, and his dedication to family.