The Pursuit, Kayenta, Arizona

The Pursuit, Kayenta, Arizona is notable for its strong colors, energetic handling of paint, and well-designed surface patterns. Leigh had long practiced the bravura brushwork and broad handling of paint typical of the Munich style, and by this time had incorporated even looser brushwork and the unusual pastel colors of the desert into his work. His European training would have called for more solidity in his figures, but in this case he has flattened them to achieve a modern spontaneous look. While Leigh often turned to romantic imagery when he depicted Native Americans in his paintings, in this instance he largely avoided a stereotypical look by steering away from specific cultural references and giving the surrounding environment equal billing in the composition.