Old Adobe of Phoenix, c. 1900 by Maynard Dixon

Maynard Dixon (American, 1875–1946)
Old Adobe of Phoenix, 1900
Pencil on paper
Inscribed “Phoenix AZ / Aug 1900” lower right, stamped with artist’s Thunderbird device
Sight: 9 x 11 in.
Framed: 17 x 18 1/2 in.

This early drawing by Maynard Dixon captures the weathered contours and humble textures of a traditional adobe dwelling in Phoenix, Arizona. Executed in 1900 when Dixon was just 25 years old, the sketch reveals his growing interest in the vernacular architecture and lifeways of the American Southwest—subjects that would become central to his artistic identity. The composition, though modest, is rich in character: a worn wagon wheel, makeshift ladder, and loosely draped textiles hint at the resilience and improvisation of frontier life.

Dixon, born in Fresno, California, trained in San Francisco before establishing himself as a leading visual chronicler of the American West. Best known for his Western landscapes and social realist works, he also produced a significant body of drawings and field sketches that reflect his sharp observational eye and deep respect for Indigenous and settler cultures alike.

Provenance:
The artist
Edith Hamlin Dixon, San Francisco (by descent, 1946)
Westview Gallery, San Jose, CA
Acquired by the previous owner in 1987