By Hilaire Hiler
Located in Denver, CO
An important 1934 WPA-era color serigraph by American modernist Hilaire Hiler (1898–1966), this dynamic work titled Native American Fox Costume exemplifies the artist’s bold synthesis of modernist abstraction, cultural symbolism, and avant-garde color theory. The composition depicts a stylized figure in ceremonial fox costume, poised with a bow and adorned with an elaborate feathered headdress, rendered in striking contrasts of black, red, and white. The result is a powerful visual rhythm that reflects both the graphic experimentation and cultural fascination characteristic of early twentieth-century American Modernism.
Executed during the WPA period, this original serigraph demonstrates Hiler’s distinctive semi-abstract style, in which figuration is reduced to geometric structure and symbolic form. The flattened composition, bold outlines, and saturated palette create a sense of movement and ritual energy, reinforcing the work’s connection to mythic narrative and Native American-inspired themes common in WPA-era printmaking. The artist’s engagement with color theory and structural design is evident throughout, making this an especially strong example of his print oeuvre.
Hilaire Hiler was a key figure in American modernism, known not only as a painter and printmaker but also as a color theorist and educator associated with WPA mural projects, including work for the Aquatic Park...
Category
1930s American Modern Xiu-ping Liao Art
