Murray Tinkelman , Mystical Indian Tribes of Arizona and Mexico with Head of Vulture, 1973

This work was done on the assignment and illustrate myths and culture of a book on the Pima and Papago Indian tribes of southern Arizona and northern Mexico. Tinkelman's vision of the book is characterized by a close-up portrait of a vulture in profile. In the background, we see Indian's in headdresses involved in a ritual dance or celebratory act around a fire that is next to their simple dwellings. All is rendered in Tinkelman's crosshatching style. It is done with almost microscopic precision and the level of meticulousness is mind-numbing. Clearly, Tinkelman is pushing the boundaries of art as he constructs his image out of thousands of tiny black lines. Like the pointillism of the early 20th century, the image is revealed as you move back away from the close-up details. The technique is a perfect match for the ritual subject matter in that there is a mesmerizing and almost spiritual quality to the work that challenges the very nature of perception and reality. "The First War." Illustration for page 48 of At The Center of the World by Betty Baker (New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1973). Pen and ink on paper. 360x275 mm; 14 1/4x10 3/4 inches, on 16x13-inch sheet mounted to a larger board. Signed "M. Tinkelman" in the lower right image. Matted with acetate cover but not framed.
Murray Tinkelman, American, 1933–2016
Pen and Ink on Board
14.25 -10.75 inches
1 of 8

This work was done on the assignment and illustrate myths and culture of a book on the Pima and Papago Indian tribes of southern Arizona and northern Mexico. Tinkelman's vision of the book is characterized by a close-up portrait of a vulture in profile. In the background, we see Indian's in headdresses involved in a ritual dance or celebratory act around a fire that is next to their simple dwellings. All is rendered in Tinkelman's crosshatching style. It is done with almost microscopic precision and the level of meticulousness is mind-numbing. Clearly, Tinkelman is pushing the boundaries of art as he constructs his image out of thousands of tiny black lines. Like the pointillism of the early 20th century, the image is revealed as you move back away from the close-up details. The technique is a perfect match for the ritual subject matter in that there is a mesmerizing and almost spiritual quality to the work that challenges the very nature of perception and reality. "The First War." Illustration for page 48 of At The Center of the World by Betty Baker (New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1973). Pen and ink on paper. 360x275 mm; 14 1/4x10 3/4 inches, on 16x13-inch sheet mounted to a larger board. Signed "M. Tinkelman" in the lower right image. Matted with acetate cover but not framed.

Materials
Pen and Ink on Board
Size
14 1/4 × 10 3/4 in | 36.2 × 27.3 cm
Rarity

Medium

Signature
Hand-signed by artist, Signed "M. Tinkelman" in the lower right image
Certificate of authenticity
Included (issued by gallery)
Frame
Not included

MT
MT
Murray Tinkelman
American, 1933–2016
RF
RFF
Robert Funk Fine Art
Miami
Murray Tinkelman
,
Mystical Indian Tribes of Arizona and Mexico with Head of Vulture, 1973
Pen and Ink on Board
14 1/4 × 10 3/4 in | 36.2 × 27.3 cm
Includes a
US$14,000 Plus Shipping