The Water Carrier

R.C. Gorman (Navajo, 1932–2005)

The Water Carrier, c. 1987

Medium: Limited Edition Color Lithograph on Fine Art Paper

Edition: Hand-Signed and Numbered 154 of 255 by the Artist

Inscriptions: Signed and dated lower left; numbered lower right in pencil

Dimensions:

• Sheet size: 36 × 31 in. (91.4 × 78.7 cm.)
• Framed: 48.25 × 42 in. (122.6 × 106.7 cm.)

Condition: Excellent condition; professionally housed in a premium wooden frame with custom double matting under archival presentation.

Price: $5,000

About the Artwork

Exemplifying the graceful, flowing lines that earned him the title "the Picasso of American Indian art," The Water Carrier is an iconic 1987 masterwork by R.C. Gorman. The composition highlights Gorman's signature subject matter—a monumentalized, elegant Navajo woman draped in a vibrant magenta blanket. Balanced atop her head is a brilliantly detailed Pueblo pottery vessel, featuring the revered Zuni "heart-line deer" motif, set against a beautifully graduated Southwestern desert twilight sky.

Pulled hand-pressed onto fine art paper in a strictly limited edition run of 255, this work is highly sought after by collectors for its incredible color blending and cultural resonance. Number 154 showcases a perfectly preserved color palette, highlighting the seamless transitional gradients that are only achievable through traditional stone lithography.

Shipping & Acquisition Notes

Provenance & Fulfillment: This artwork is sourced from a private estate and ships securely from the S7CAG studio in South Pasadena, California. Kindly allow a minimum of two weeks for export processing, professional crating, and transit preparation.

Framing Customization: The artwork is acquired as-is and securely shipped in its current exhibition frame (included in the $5,-00 purchase price; shipping is billed separately). However, alternative bespoke framing options are available as an additional service upon request. S7CAG maintains an exclusive partnership with an elite, museum-grade framing atelier to accommodate custom architectural or design specifications prior to shipment.

Should you wish to customize the presentation, our design team will provide an architectural framing consultation. The new housing can be completely stylized to your personal taste, interior aesthetic, or final room placement, integrating design recommendations from both S7CAG and our master framer. A comprehensive, itemized quote for these additional custom framing services will be produced and billed separately, subject to your final approval before any craftsmanship begins.

International Buyers: Please be advised that international acquisitions may be subject to local customs duties, VAT, or regional import taxes, which remain the sole responsibility of the acquiring collector.

Provenance & Documentation Note

This artwork has been meticulously physically inspected and vetted for stylistic, technical, and signature authenticity by S7CAG. While the original physical publisher's certificate has been separated over time, S7CAG will issue a formal Gallery Document of Authenticity (GDOA) alongside an executive Provenance Statement (PS) anchoring the artwork’s verified history from our current historical point onward. This document ensures full institutional backing of the work's legitimacy and protects its secondary market asset equity.