Couse, Eanger Irving

Born in Michigan and trained in Paris, E. I. Couse was artistically drawn both to the romance and realism of rural life. On his return from Europe, Couse reveled in the traditional ways of Native Americans, particularly the Indians of Taos, where he established summer residency in 1902 and moved permanently in 1927. Couse’s paintings sing the songs of contemplation. The intrinsic quietness of Couse’s Indians hints at the artist’s belief that they lived in harmony with their surroundings and the passage of time. Because of his calendar contracts with the Santa Fe Railroad and other companies, Couse’s images have become part of the collective consciousness, helping to shape our romanticized notion of Native Americans.