Antonio Concha, Old Man of Taos

Art Historical Context

In the heart of the Smithsonian American Art lies *Antonio Concha, Old Man Taos* (1924), a bust portrait by Ira D. Cassidy. This painting captures the dignified visage of Antonio Concha an elder from the Taos Pueblo in New Mexico, rendered with a focus on his weathered features and cultural presence. Cassidy, active in the early 20th-century Southwest art scene, immortalizes Concha as a symbol of Pueblo heritage, highlighting the resilience of Native American traditions amid rapid modernization. Created in oil on canvas—a medium favored for its depth and luminosity—this work exemplifies the e...