Untitled (Stylized Antelope) c. 1950

Woody Crumbo made this untitled stylized antelope painting on paper at an unknown date. Look at the flowing lines and flat planes of color, they remind me of printmaking, where each shape is carefully planned and placed. But here, it's all done by hand, which gives it this incredible liveliness. I'm really drawn to the way Crumbo uses color, that soft tan in contrast with a kind of sky blue. There are echoes of Matisse's cut-outs in the way shapes layer and overlap, creating depth without shading. Take a look at the antelope's legs. Those long, thin strokes, they're not just legs, they're pure energy, shooting across the frame, while the three little birds in the top left are like musical notes, scattered across the sky. This piece feels like a conversation between cultures, echoing both Art Deco and traditional Native American art styles. Like a visual poem, it invites you to wander and discover your own story within its lines and colors.