Est-Zan-Lopa—Navajo Ganado Arizona 1904

Edward Warren Sawyer crafted this bronze medal in 1904, portraying Est-Zan-Lopa from Navajo Ganado, Arizona. I imagine Sawyer in his studio, hunched over, meticulously carving into the metal, coaxing out the girl's profile. The metal itself is smooth, almost skin-like, catching the light in a way that makes Est-Zan-Lopa seem both present and timeless. The inscription, with its sharp, clean lines, frames her face, giving a sense of the place and time. The small details, like the delicate jewelry, add to the intimacy of the portrait. It's interesting how a medal, typically used for commemoration, becomes here a tender study of a young person. I wonder, was Sawyer thinking of the coins of the Roman Empire? Maybe he was interested in the history of portraiture, and how each artist builds on the work of those who came before, always in conversation, always learning from each other's techniques and vision. That's what art is all about, isn't it? A never-ending dialogue.