Raven Stealing the Moon

1977

First Nations, Haida, born 1946

Robert Davidson, a highly acclaimed Northwest Coast artist of Haida descent, hails from an illustrious family of artists. Although his earliest exposure was to the carving arts, his work spans a variety of media, both new and traditional. A recognized leader in the revival of Haida art and culture, Davidson has been honored with a number of awards, including the Order of Canada and the Order of British Columbia
In this work, the dominant colors are red and black, which are closely associated with Haida ancestral traditions. It utilizes the formline design that is prevalent in much Northwest Coast art. The title refers to a well-known Haida folktale in which a raven demonstrates his power by stealing the moon from the sky. This work was created at a time when Davidson was part of the Northwest Coast Print Guild, the group formed to establish high standards for printmaking from Native and First Nations artists.

Ink on paper

23 1/16 x 10 9/16 in. (58.5 x 26.8 cm)

Sheet h.: 30 1/16 in.

Sheet w.: 17 in.

Gift of Marshall and Helen Hatch

2013.19.1

Not currently on view

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