Peshlaki’s Concho

Peshlaki’s Concho, 1986, R.C. Gorman lithograph, depicts a Navajo woman seated in profile wearing a stunning deep red blanket with traditional concho belt—a series of decorative circular silver ornaments—draped down the front. She wears a lilac-blue skirt and her dark hair is secured in a traditional bun adorned with white feather. The sunset background transitions from peachy-orange at the base through coral, pink, and purple tones, suggesting either dawn or dusk in high desert light. The woman’s proud posture and her regalia—the conchos signifying cultural identity and wealth—affirm themes of dignity and traditional dress in Gorman’s work. The masterful lithographic handling of color creates a luminous, warm composition celebrating Navajo aesthetic traditions.