José Cisneros: A Colorful World in Black and White

A COLORFUL WORLD IN BLACK AND WHITE

A Retrospective of the life and art of Jose Cisneros

Prepared by Eric Broussard Curator;The Bryan Museum

Gallery Images (Note Mr. Cisneros’ studio reproduction is not part of the traveling exhibit):

Certificate of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre from Pope John Paul II

The Vatican 1995

The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, also called Order of the Holy Sepulchre or Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, is a Catholic order of knighthood under the protection of the Holy See.

15.25H x 18.5W (Catalog # 001)

Empressario del Departmento de Bexar Award County Clerk Office of Bexar County November 6, 1987

This detailed award certificate was designed by Cisneros several years before receiving the honor.

Outstanding Western Book Award for Illustrations

National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center April 8, 1985

Letter congratulating Cisneros on his award and invitation to the ceremony.

14H x 12W (Catalog # 003)

Distinguished Citizen Award from the City of Juarez, Mexico October 1, 1959

Proclaims Cisneros a “distinguished citizen who continues to serve his community with distinction, honesty, and efficacy.”

19H x 15W (Catalog

Letters from the Whitehouse During the Presidency of George W. Bush

The Whitehouse 2002 2007 (Framed together)

16H x 19W (Catalog # 006)

This picture is taken from the ceremony where Cisneros received the National Humanities Medal from the President.

11H x 13W (Catalog # 007)

Photograph of José Cisneros and President George W. Bush April 22, 2002

Untitled [Horseman]

José Cisneros

Graphite on paper 1922

Considered to be the first horseman drawn by Cisneros. It was drawn for his mentor, Don Manuel Villaraus. The professor signed and returned the drawing to twelve year old Cisneros.

15H x 17W (Catalog # 048)

Female Portrait José Cisneros

Graphite on paper c. 1930s

This was completed while Cisneros was taking a correspondence art course. The instructor’s comment of “excellent” is visible on the lower right.

19H x 15W (Catalog # 049)

José Cisneros

pencil on paper 1922

Untitled

Cisneros

on

Untitled [Jesus]

José Cisneros Watercolor 1935 Untitled [Cloaked Man]

José Cisneros Watercolor 1935 (Framed together)

13H x 16W (Catalog # 053)

Personal Case Labels:

Lydia Patterson Institute:

Cisneros attended the Lydia Patterson Institute from 1927 1928. He would travel across the border from Juarez to El Paso to lean English. This picture was taken at the institute when Cisneros was seventeen years old.

Vocation Training Certificate:

During World War II, Cisneros earned a certification in sheet metal work from Western Technical Institute. His experience helped to get a job at El Paso City Lines. Working in an essential industry allowed him to remain at home during the war. The company’s buses and trolleys transported troops to, and from, Fort Bliss. He continued to work for the company until his retirement in the late 1970s.

Petition:

In May of 1943, Cisneros filed a “Declaration of Intention” beginning the process of becoming a United States citizen after a waiting period of two years.

Letter to Frank Dobie:

Letter from Cisneros to Frank Dobie dated May 2, 1950. Cisneros thanks Dobie for sending him a copy of an inscribed booklet. Mentions Tom Lea and Carl Hertzog.

Personal Bookplate:

Personal bookplate designed and used by Cisneros for his personal library.

Personal Case Layout (Labels Below)

July 17, 1938

Letter written by Maud Sullivan, librarian at El Paso Public Library, introducing Cisneros and endorsing the display of his artwork. The El Paso Library had recently displayed approximately 40 pieces of his art.

15H x 12W (Catalog # 043)

Handwritten Letter from Maud Sullivan Endorsing the Art of José Cisneros Maud Sullivan

Untitled José Cisneros

Pen and ink on artboard

Untitled José Cisneros

Pen and ink on artboard

Untitled José Cisneros

Graphite and ink on artboard 1938

Untitled José Cisneros

Pen and ink, colored pencil on artboard 1937

Tom Lea Case (Labels Below)

Tom Lea Case Labels:

Magazines:

Popular magazines in Mexico were the first publications to feature artwork by Cisneros. A short time later, his drawings began to appear in the El Paso Herald-Post.

Tom Lea Letter:

Reproduction of the letter written from Tom Lea to Maud Sullivan 1938

Photo: Photograph of José Cisneros and Tom Lea c. 1997

Booklet:

Boletín de la Sociedad Chihuahuense de Estudios Históricos [Bulletin of the Chihuahuan Society for Historical Studies] No. 8 & 9 Chihuahua, Mexico February 15, 1940

Carl Hertzog Text

Carl

Part

Untitled [Three Englishmen]

Cisneros

and

a series of sketches done for The Journey of Three Englishmen Across Texas in 1568 by

DeGolyer

Roped

This

used on

by John

Carl Hertzog Case

Nova Magazine: NOVA: The University of Texas at El Paso Magazine News and Information Office University of Texas at El Paso

June 1972

June 1975

In 1969 Cisneros was awarded the Paisano Fellowship, which pays artists and writers to live for six months at J. Frank Dobie’s old ranch, “Paisano”, on Barton Creek, west of Austin, TX. It was during this time that he created most of the sketches for his 1984 book, Riders Across the Centuries

Cowboy Folk Humor: Life and Laughter in the American West John O. West

August House/Little Rock Publishers 1990

Mexican American Folklore: Legends, Songs, Festivals, Proverbs, Crafts, Tales of Saints, of Revolutionaries, and More

John O. West

August House/Little Rock Publishers Little Rock, Arkansas 1988

The Journey of Three Englishmen Across Texas in 1568 E. DeGolyer The Peripatetic Press El Paso, Texas 1947

Carl Hertzog Case (Labels below)

Photograph of Cisneros on the grounds of Frank Dobie’s Paisano Ranch 1969

The Journey of Fray Marcos de Niza Cleve Hallenbeck

Southern Methodist University Press Dallas, Texas 1987 Flowsheet

Texas Western College El Paso, Texas 1951

This issue of Texas Western College’s Flowsheet is considered to be the most important collaborative project that José Cisneros, Tom Lea, and Carl Hertzog produced together. This publication paved the way for dozens of projects over the next three decades.

The Black Military Experience in the American West John M. Carroll, ed. Liveright Publishing New York 1971

Conquistador José Cisneros

and ink on artboard 1938

Bucking Vaquero José Cisneros

Pen and ink with watercolor on board 1973

Novios [The Couple] José Cisneros

and

colored pencil

Fray Cristobal de Quinones Teaches Music to New Mexican Indians and Settlers José Cisneros

and ink

The

Spanish Public Official

José Cisneros

Pen and ink

Pirate José Cisneros

Pen and ink on artboard 1999

Conquistador José Cisneros

Pen and ink on artboard

1990

Mexican Chicano c. 1860 José Cisneros Pen and ink 1983

Emperor Montezuma José Cisneros

Pen and ink on artboard 1999

and ink

Conquistador José Cisneros

Transition of Government in Texas From Spanish to Mexican José Cisneros

Pen and ink, colored pencil 1997

Untitled [Calvary Sergeant] José Cisneros

and ink

Socorro Mission José Cisneros

and ink, colored pencil, and

1983

Don Quixote José Cisneros

Pen and ink on artboard 1999

Horse

José Cisneros

Pen and ink

Untitled [Jesus]

José Cisneros

Pen and ink n.d.

Don Francisco Vázquez De Coronado c. 1540 José Cisneros

Pen and ink, colored pencil, and watercolor wash

Mexican “Charro” c. 1835

José Cisneros

Pen and ink, colored pencil, with watercolor wash 1994

Originally a pen and ink drawing, this piece was enhanced by the artist with colored pencil and watercolor wash for J.P. Bryan

29H x 24W (Catalog # 059)

Spanish Knight c. 1500

José Cisneros

Pen and ink, colored pencil, and watercolor wash 1995

Gaucho Argentino c. 1870 José Cisneros

Pen and ink, colored pencil, and watercolor wash 1995

J. P. Bryan commissioned Cisneros to create this work to accompany an exhibit of spurs. 29H x 24W (Catalog # 061)

Untitled [Artwork from cover of “Riders Across the Borderland”] José Cisneros

Pen and ink, colored pencil, with watercolor wash 1984

Finished artwork from the cover of Cisneros’ 1984 book, Riders Across the Centuries. Handwritten dedication to John and Lucy West

13H x 17W (Catalog # 023)

Cisneros Books Case (Labels Below)

Jose’s Publications Labels

Riders Across the Centuries: Horsemen of the Spanish Borderlands José Cisneros

Texas Western Press, The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, Texas 1984

Faces of the Borderlands José Cisneros

Texas Western Press, The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, Texas 1977

Riders of the Border José Cisneros

Texas Western Press, The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, Texas 1971

My Life as an Illustrator in the Southwest José Cisneros

DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University Dallas, Texas 1992

The Spanish Heritage of the Southwest José Cisneros

Texas Western Press El Paso, Texas 1952

Borderlands José Cisneros

Hidalgo County Historical Museum Edinburg, Texas 1998

El Ratoncito Pequeño [A Nice Little Mouse] José Cisneros

Cinco Puntos Press El Paso, Texas 2001

Framed Photo José Cisneros 2005