The Spirit Buffalo

This 15 x 18 inch screen print was made by artist, Rodolfo Guzzardi in 1975. The work depicts a buffalo standing besides the skeletal remains of another animal, possibly another buffalo. The buffalo is specifically standing upon a plateau or mesa like landform, mainly positioned in the middle of the composition but a bit towards the right hand side of the work, and looks towards the left hand side, giving us a 90 degree visual angle of the figure. The living buffalo is depicted intricately, with its fur texture and muscular build prominently displayed; however, the buffalo is portrayed with only the shading and contouring of his fur, muscles, and overall outline, as the negative space that fills his body, matches the color of the sky and atmosphere thats behind it. This makes the buffalo appear as if it is only a vision or a ghost of an actual buffalo, which if realistically rendered, would have brown fur and not the dark blue lines that define the body and the grayish blue that fills the negative space of the buffalo's figure. The skeleton lies partially buried in the earth, with its skull and a few bones exposed, and could very well be an allegory for the major destruction of buffalo herds throughout North America, especially seeing as though the "living" buffalo is depicted in a ghost or apparition-like manner. A dramatic sky painted in hues of grey and blue forms the backdrop, with swirling clouds and streaks of vibrant colors that cut across the background and sky. The artist incorporates the depiction of other subjects and hides them in the blue and grey swirling clouds that hang above the buffalo. Appearing as though they are coming from the streaks of vibrant colors that cut across the background and follow into the large clouds, a buffalo lowers its head and charges fast while a human figure upon a horse chases it with a bow and arrow in hand. Within the background, next to the swirling clouds, is another butte landform, depicted with the same blue/grey color as the background, clouds, and buffalo.

According to Knpobo, a Taos Native American, "When the Holy Spirit created Mother Earth, He gave us the mighty buffalo. This noble animal was never hunted for sport, but to provide food, and hides for clothing and shelter. No smallest part was wasted. Among the Indians, the wise men and the medicine men, use as their sacred power, The Spirit of the Buffalo. Even though the vast herds are no more, the Indians still have their Buffalo dances, as they do the Deer, Eagle Turtle, and many other sacred dances. To us, all of God's creations are sacred and must be used reverent. For many years we have tried to capture the "Spirit Buffalo" in a picture, but had failed until Rodolfo Guzzardi heard the story and painted this for us."

Taken from The Publishers Carl's Serigraph Studios in Taos, New Mexico, "Rodolfo Guzzardi, born in Florence, Italy, has successfully painted many subjects among many different peoples. He is internationally known as he painted in France, Italy, Greece, Northern Africa, Spain, Belgium, Mexico, and the United States. Evidence of his versatility can be found in a book on his life and his work by Giorgio Nicodemi, eminent art critic of Italy. Having a tendency for deep philosophical studies, Guzzardi, often expresses in his paintings the spiritual meaning of things. In the Ancient Indian Beliefs, he found many points of contact with other great and ancient philosophies, and in this work "The Spirit Buffalo," he gives us a glimpse into the mysteries of Cosmic Laws."