Vessel 1935 - 1942

This graphite and colored pencil drawing, titled 'Vessel,' was made by Vincent Burzy, who lived between 1855 and 1995. These drawings record pottery vessels Burzy saw in the Southwest Hall at an institution, likely a museum. The Zuni are indigenous Pueblo people, and the designs on these vessels carry cultural significance. When artists like Burzy depict Native American art, it raises questions about representation, ownership, and the role of museums in shaping our understanding of different cultures. The image's value lies in its function as a document from a specific time, revealing the ways in which Native American art was viewed and studied within institutional settings. In researching Burzy and the collections he documented, we can better understand the complex interplay between art, culture, and the institutions that present them to the public.