Nuestros dioses 1915

Saturnino Herran made this monumental painting, Nuestros dioses, with oil on canvas. I can imagine the act of painting itself as a kind of ritual or offering, layering the paint to represent the artist's deep engagement with his cultural heritage. Looking at the earthy palette, I imagine Herran, brush in hand, trying to capture a sense of timelessness, of myth and memory made visible. The bodies are like a sculptural frieze that reminds me of Diego Rivera but less narrative and more like a feeling, or a moment in time, frozen. I keep thinking about the way the figures are arranged; some in labor, some in repose, some looking up to the sky. Their bronzed skin tones are luminous. Each gesture and stance seems imbued with significance. It's as if Herran is channeling the spirit of his ancestors, asking big questions about identity and belonging. As painters we are all in an ongoing conversation across time, and I think, as viewers, we’re always invited to participate in this too.