#17 • George Ahgupuk 1952 Original Ink Drawing of an Alaska Winter Homestead

Part of November 2026 Fantastic Finds Auction (timed auction by Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals)

Starting at $5.00

Status: Available

Bidding closes Nov 15, 2026 4:06 PM AKST

Category: Art

An original 1952 ink-and-wash drawing on paper by Iñupiaq artist George Aden Ahgupuk (1911-2001) depicts a snowy Alaska homestead. Sled dogs occupy the open foreground, some curled asleep beside their tethering posts, others sitting upright or turning toward the viewer. Behind them, a wooden sled rests outside a long log cabin, with stacked firewood, ladders, and an elevated log cache completing the working scene. The raised storehouse kept food and supplies beyond the reach of wildlife. Ahgupuk gives the small drawing considerable detail, from the round log ends and sled runners to individual branches and the dogs' thick coats. The dark, closely drawn spruce forest contrasts with the broad stretches of pale snow, while lighter gray washes carry the distant mountains and clouds above the buildings. Born in Shishmaref, Ahgupuk began drawing during a prolonged hospital stay in the 1930s and went on to work in pen and ink on paper, wood, and prepared hides. This drawing is signed and dated 1952 at lower right and is presented in a dark wood frame with a gold-tone inner edge. It measures approximately 10" x 12" overall.