Taos Society Painting. The Taos Society of Artists was an organization of visual arts founded in Taos, New Mexico. Established in 1915, it was disbanded in 1927. The Society was essentially a commercial cooperative, as opposed to a stylistic collective, and its foundation contributed to the development of the tiny Taos art colony into an international art center. Joseph Henry Sharp, who made paintings of Native Americans throughout his life, visited Taos on a trip through New Mexico in 1893. While there he became interested in the people of the Taos Pueblo and the landscape, an interest he shared with Ernest Blumenschein when they were studying art in Paris. Having heard of the degree to which Sharp was interested in painting the western United States, and the Indian pueblo of Taos in particular, Blumenschein came to Taos with fellow artist Bert Phillips in 1898. Planning only to visit Taos, they became enamored by the Taos Valley and its people that they decided to stay. This was the beginning of the Taos art colony. Blumenschein described his first sights of Taos, The month was September, and the fertile valley a beautiful sight, and inspiration for those who ply the brush for happiness. The primitive people of this out-of-the-way region were harvesting their crops by sunlight and by moonlight. Brown people they were, both Mexicans and Indians, happy people with happy children, in a garden spot protected by mountains. Native Americans had lived for centuries in the pueblo just outside the village of Taos. There a peace-loving, democratic society has maintained, and continues to maintain, its history, culture, dress and way of life over centuries. Ernest Blumenschein returned to New York City for a time while Phillips stayed behind. Blumenschein kept up correspondence with Phillips and discussed setting up an artist colony in Taos. Blumenschein also wrote other artists in New York and Paris of Taos about the beauty and artistic promise of northern New Mexico. On July 19, 1915 Joseph Henry Sharp, E. Irving Couse, Oscar E. Berninghaus, W. Herbert Dunton, Ernest Blumenschein, and Bert Phillips formed the Taos Society of Artists. The six founding members were known as the Taos Six. E. Irving Couse was the Society's first president. Their work defined the first several decades of the Taos art colony, and was distinguished by depictions of Native Americans in traditional clothing, area Hispanics and Anglo-Americans and landscapes. The group's first exhibition was held at the Palace of the Governors in Santa Fe soon after their formation. By 1917 they were sending travelling exhibits of their work across the United States. Initial critical reaction of the works was that they were unrealistic and overdone: vivid colors, too emotionally evocative and strong vibrational quality. The artists questioned the critics veracity, since they had never been to the southwestern desert, nor the Taos Pueblo. Member artists had to have worked in Taos for three consecutive years, shown an interest and aptitude for painting Native Americans and have shown in reputable galleries or New York salons. The primary reason for the requirements was to ensure that the artists were well-intentioned and capable of capturing the character and spirit of the people. Later members included Julius Rolshoven, E. Martin Hennings, Catharine C. Critcher, Kenneth Adams, Walter Ufer, and Victor Higgins.