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Lot description
Original ink and watercolor on paper by James Kivetoruk Moses (Inupiat, 1902-1982), signed lower left "Kivetoruk Moses, Nome Alaska". The composition depicts a solitary Native Alaskan woman seated nude on the edge of an ice floe, a subject matter repeated by the artist and historically titled "The Eskimo Mermaid." Her long, dark hair falls down her back, and a simple headband encircles her brow. She gazes out over the vast frozen landscape beneath the luminous sunset sky. The setting is filled with narrative detail, including jagged icebergs and floes scattered across the water's surface, with a single seal emerging near the woman's feet, symbolically linking her to the life-giving environment of the Arctic. Middle distance featuring a dog sled team and figures traversing an icy plain, adding cultural context and grounding the scene in traditional Inupiat life. Behind them, a horizon of snow-covered mountains and dark water defines the expanse of the North. Moses's technique is distinctive, combining folk-art simplicity with keen storytelling. Carefully shaded sky transitions from warm orange and pink tones to cool grays and blues, evoking the glow of twilight. Figures are stylized but purposeful, reflecting Moses's narrative focus rather than strict realism. Matted in cream and housed in a simple wood frame, it measures approximately 16.25" x 20" overall with a sight view of 10.5" x 14".