Los ochos pintores

DEFINITION

Transplanted artists from the eastern United States to Taos, New Mexico, they became founders of the early 20th century Taos Art Colony. Members were Joseph Sharp, Ernest Blumenschein, Bert Geer Phillips, Victor Higgins, Eanger Couse, Walter Ufer, Buck Dunton and Ernest Berninghaus. They had sophisticated art training, and most were successful illustrators. Of the eight, Couse was the last to move permanently to Taos, doing so in 1927. They banded together to have marketing strength to sell their paintings, and in 1912, formed an expanded group, Taos Society of Artists. Source: Arrell Morgan Gibson, "The Santa Fe and Taos Colonies".