"I revere women. They are my greatest inspiration."
R.C. Gorman
 
"Proud Lady", 2005 by R.C. Gorman, is one of the most sought after lithographs by the late artist. It is one of his final works of art and arguably a career masterpiece.
 
This rare edition is limited to only 100 in the artist's edition with a limited number of artist proofs, presentation proofs, printer's proofs, roman numbered impressions and archive and museum impressions as well as the bon á tirer - totalling only 136 lithographs in the world. R.C. Gorman passed before the signing of this work. In place of his signature, this R.C. Gorman masterpiece has a 22k gold embossing of his signature.
 
R.C. Gorman
R.C. Gorman was known as the "Picasso of American Indian Art", creating hundreds of lithographic and serigraph artworks over 39 years in collaboration with master printer makers - beginning with Jose Sanchez in 1966 and including Richard Newlin and Yoko Sato of Houston Fine Arts Press, Ben Q. Adams and Nancy Steen Adams of Western Graphics, Michael Vigil of Graphic Impressions, and Peter Holmes of Origins Press to name a few.
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The Proud Lady
R.C. wasn't one to go into too much detail about his work. In his line (and often lack of) and in his interviews, he allowed room for the audience to experience the artwork.
 
Diné (the Navajo) are matrilineal people. One's clan and land are passed down through the mother's line. Our women do the work of raising the children. We call our mother "shima" and - like in English - our grandmothers "shima sání" (old mothers), but we recognize the role our aunts have in raising us and so we call them "shima yazhi" (little mother). The women grind the corn, weave our blankets, and keep the men in-line. That doesn't detract from what the men contribute. Everything must be in Hozho (harmony) and both have their roles.
 
Navajo Women are beautiful and proud.
 
R.C.'s sister-cousin - in Navajo our cousins of similar age are like siblings as we use the term sister-cousin or brother-cousin to describe our relation to them - Grace is the model for Proud Lady and many of R.C.'s artworks. R.C. was very particular with his models. Once a good rapport was established he would invite them to model again and again for years. In his early years, he used many family members and close friends as models. The same face appearing for decades in his work. But according to his gallery director Ms. Virginia Dooley, "He rarely draws an exact portrait. Rather, his drawings are the universal woman and every woman. This is why his art is renowned the world over. His themes are basic to all cultures: the strong woman: serene and at peace with her nature." (Navajo Artist RC Gorman, Heese/Waldrum Productions, 1987)
 
R.C.'s models include: Bernadette Tracks, Yoko Sato, Sandra Davies, Mary Lou, Virginia Martinez, and Verna Clinton. 
 
So, there are many stories speculating on Proud Lady. All of them probably true, but - like his drawings - none of them "complete" until brought to life by you.
 
"I revere women. They are my greatest inspiration," Gorman said in a 1998 interview at his studio north of Taos, according to the associated press.