Hendrikus “Henry” Cornelius Balink was a Dutch-born American painter, draughtsman, and etcher active in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Born in Amsterdam, Holland, he was trained at the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and emigrated to the United States. He first lived in Taos, New Mexico, in 1917 and settled in Santa Fe in 1924, making his home and studio on Old Pecos Road for the remainder of his life. Today, Balink is commonly celebrated for his painted portraits of Native Americans. Balink's rendering of a holy woman has an impressionistic quality, the artist was deliberate in conveying the detail of her dress, long hair, and headband. It is a half-length portrait, showing the head, shoulders, and covered arms of the older woman. His brushstrokes are shorter and precise, though they are still visible. She has a slightly oval-shaped face, with prominent cheekbones. Her eyes are dark and lack focus, with a slight downward gaze. Her nose is straight, and their mouth is closed in a neutral expression. Her tanned facial skin shows the wrinkles that come with age. The woman's hair is dark, styled in two long braids, which hang down on either side of the face. She is clothed in a vibrant blue ceremonial dress that features prominent red and white decorative patterns, likely of cultural significance. The patterns are symmetrical and add a striking visual contrast to the blue fabric. Additionally, she is wearing a headband with similar decorative elements as those on the garment, enhancing the overall cohesive look. Balink's artistic training was in the classical Barbizon school of tight brushwork and a gray-brown palette. The intense colors of the Southwest landscape inspired him to brighten his palette. His excellent background as a skilled draftsman prepared him for the portraits of members from over sixty-three Native American tribes that he painted.

“Holy Woman” by Henry Balink (Dutch American) - Oil on canvas / Before 1963 - Tucson Museum of Art (Arizona) #WomenInArt #ArtText #AmericanArt #art #PortraitofaWoman #HenryBalink #HenryCorneliusBalink #TucsonMuseumofArt #NativeAmerican #womensart #oilpainting #artwork #artoftheday #bskyart #balink