Josefa Roybal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Josefa Roybal
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| Born |
San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico
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| Nationality | Native American |
| Other names | Josephine Roybal |
| Occupation | Painter and potter |
| Parents |
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Josefa Roybal (pronounced Ho-SEH-fah ROY-bal) was a talented Native American artist from the San Ildefonso Pueblo in New Mexico. She was a skilled painter and potter during the 1900s. While her exact birth and death dates are not known, it is thought she was born around 1900-1905 and passed away before 1960. She is sometimes known by the names Josephine or Josepha.
About Josefa Roybal's Life
Josefa Roybal was born in northern New Mexico. She came from a family of many artists. Her family included the famous artist Awa Tsireh, also known as Alfonso Roybal. Josefa was the daughter of Alfonsita Martinez and Juan Esteban Roybal. She was also the sister of Awa Tsireh, Santana Roybal Martinez, Lupita Roybal, Manuelita Johnson Roybal, and Raphael Roybal.
Her father was the nephew of a potter named Cresencio Martinez. Her nephew, José Disiderio (J.D.) Roybal, also became a well-known painter. Josefa's grandfather on her mother's side was a full-blooded Diné man. He was adopted into the pueblo as a baby.
Josefa was one of the few female Pueblo painters when this art movement began. However, she did not get as much attention as her brother. This was because the art world at that time mostly focused on male artists. Today, more attention is given to the amazing female artists from San Ildefonso Pueblo.
Sometimes, Josefa signed her artwork with an English version of her name, Josephine. She did this to make it easier for people who did not speak Navajo. You can find her beautiful work signed with both names.
One of her famous paintings is Comanche Dancers. It was created around 1930–1939. This artwork was made using watercolor, ink, and pencil on paper. You can see it in the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
