Terpning: Tribute to the Plains People

This expansive catalogue gives a broad view of some 40 years of work by one of the major contemporary painters of the American West. Originally an illustrator of magazine covers and movie posters, Terpning began a transition to western themes in the 1970s, quickly rising to the top of his profession with works like 1980’s Stones That Speak and 1979’s Chief Joseph Rides to Surrender. In the lineage of Frederic Remington, Terpning’s paintings are evocative and richly sentimental, evincing a “dedication to telling Native American stories from the Native American perspective.” Each of the more than 120 oil paintings included features a commentary by writer and fellow cowboy artist Harley Brown, combining description with insightful notes on Terpning’s technique and process. For a retrospective of a prominent artist—recently Terpning’s paintings have begun to sell for more than $1 million—the book is marked by its strong personal element. Brown’s comments are evidently drawn as much from conversation with the artist as from study. There are also a series of testimonials from collectors, each stressing Terpning’s character and human warmth alongside (or sometimes above) his painterly virtuosity. The result may induce readers to take a closer look at a subset of contemporary American realist painting, while also providing a window into the unique community and values that perpetuate such a market. (Sept.)