In John Big Bluff Tosamah Jesse Littlebird has crafted a striking, vibrant portrait in mixed media on canvas of one of the most iconic characters from N. Scott Momaday's celebrated novel, House Made of Dawn. The figure is depicted in a pale blue shirt with red tiger-like stripes, a tic-tac-toe game adorning his chest. Tosamah's face is split down the middle by a blue stripe, the left half is red and the right side bright yellow. Circles ring both eyes as they look out at the viewer, and a black horizontal stripe runs across his face, underlining his gaze. Behind the subject is a field of bold, purplish indigo brushstrokes embellished with myriad, multi-colored symbols and meaningful phrases. A vivid swath of gold glows behind the left side of the figure, perhaps symbolic of a breaking dawn. Behind his other shoulder is a large, imperfect, pink cross, which may reference Tosamah's vocation as a reverend.
A somewhat antagonistic character in the novel, John Big Bluff Tosamah's complex nature is brilliantly evoked in Littlebird's elaborate, abstract representation that honors Momaday's legacy while showcasing Jesse Littlebird's compelling creative vision.
