Cross c. 1937

Manuel G. Runyan made this rendering of a cross at an unknown date using what looks like pencil and watercolor on paper. The palette is mostly restrained earth tones, but it’s the kind of restraint that lets the lines and forms speak volumes. Look at the bottom; see how the watercolor almost stains the paper, creating this sense of depth? It's like Runyan is embracing the materiality of his medium, making the paper itself a part of the statement. The way the cross rises from its base, almost weightless, is beautifully done. I’m drawn to the curls at the base. They have a sense of playful elegance, almost like a signature. And those vertical lines beneath? They’re not just supports; they’re like roots, grounding the whole piece in something solid and real. This reminds me a bit of Guston’s later work, where he moved away from abstraction but with this piece there’s a focus on simplicity and directness. It's an interesting take on the cross, a symbol that’s been interpreted in countless ways, but here, it feels deeply personal and handmade.