Lot 158
Alpheus Hyatt Verrill (American, 1871-1954). "Kukwa Dance, Cocle Indians of Panama" oil on canvas, 1924. Signed "Verrill - Panama '24" on lower left. AND two books, both ethnographic accounts written by Verrill and published in 1927. A wonderful ensemble of works by Alpheus Hyatt Verrill, an American explorer, artist, author, inventor, and zoologist (Yale University's first zoologist) - this lot includes an oil painting of the Panamanian Cucua/Kukwa dance, a copy of Verrill's book entitled "Panama of Today" (1927) which includes a photograph entitled "Cocle Indian Kukwa Dancers" that presents 6 dancers in traditional costumes, and a copy of Verrill's "The American Indian - North, South and Central America" which includes a photograph of this actual painting. In the painting, Verrill presents 4 dancers - all wearing outfits made from fibers of the cucua plant and decorated with plant dyes - dancing in the village of San Miguel Centro in northern Cocle, Panama. Size of painting: 11.75" L x 15.875" W (29.8 cm x 40.3 cm)
The dancers impersonate cucua devils in this traditional dance which would have disappeared from Panamanian folklore a few decades ago were it not for the efforts of a group of residents in San Miguel Centro who researched, taught, and promoted the dance. According to scholar Nina K. Muller-Schwarze, "Artisans and dancers describe cucua dances and outfits as means to survive Spanish colonialism in a historical narrative that empowers rural people today." The dance has a specific social and historical context. When performed in the village, "There are three main devils (the Diablo Mayor, Capitán, and El Dirigente/Teniente) in a dance ensemble. These three not only dance but also speak during performances. The Diablo Mayor has management responsibilities such as initiating and cultivating contacts with people outside northern Coclé. Modesto Agraje (pers. comm., San Miguel Centro, 2010) explains that the Diablo Mayor keeps the devils in order, trains his followers, and commits to this position for a long time; the Capitán and what he terms the Teniente organize the line of dancers; and he explains that the other devils in the performance ensemble dont have named positions." ("The Arson of a Museum: Ethnography of historical experience and plant fiver use in northern Cocle Province, Panama" by Nina K. Muller-Schwarze - October 28, 2015)
Hyatt Verrill (1928) described the indigenous Cocle kukwa (also cucua) dance in his text as follows, "the Cocle [sic] Indians are the most highly civilized of all Panamanian tribes, despite the fact that for years they fought relentlessly against Spain and managed to hold their own at that. Today, they have forgotten their own tongue and live in a far more civilized manner than their Panamanian neighbors
Once a year they don weird dance costumes of bark cloth with grotesque masks fitted with horns and jaws and the teeth of wild animals, and take part in the 'Kukwa' or devil dance." No doubt Verrill's description suffers from western biases of the period; however, his intent to document and record the dance and other elements of the Cocle culture are valuable resources today.
The "Kukwa Dance, Cocle Indians of Panama" painting was exhibited at Whisnant Galleries where it was listed for $2200. This lot is accompanied by the gallery's text panel which states identifies the artist, title, date, etc. and also states, "Together with two books written by the Artist: 'The American Indian, North, South and Central America,' First Edition, 1927. See Page 137, a black and white plate of this actual painting; and 'Panama Today', 1927, Page 110 Black and White Plate showing the actual Indians, in their colorful costumes, as they appear in this painting."
Provenance: Whisnant Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA acquired prior to 2000
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#169576
- Condition: The painting is signed "Verrill - Panama '24" on the lower left. It has minor age wear to the peripheries but is otherwise in excellent condition. The books show expected wear and toning to pages commensurate with age. "The American Indian - North, South and Central America" has its jacket which has tears/losses as shown as well as a protective cellophane covering albeit with a few tears. "Panama of Today" does not have a jacket and shows normal scuffs/stains to cover and breaks to the spine. Still, both books are very nice overall with legible text and wonderful images.
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