Station of the Cross No. 2: "The Cross is Laid on Jesus" c. 1936

William Herbert made this watercolor painting called "Station of the Cross No. 2: 'The Cross is Laid on Jesus'" sometime during his long life. The whole scene is cast in reds, whites and browns. It's so flat, almost like he was painting a fresco on a wall. I can really get a sense of Herbert imagining the entire scene, working it out stroke by stroke. He builds up these figures with a steady, deliberate hand. Like, check out how the cross cuts through the whole composition. It makes the narrative so strong, so clear. You can feel the weight of it, you know? And I wonder, was Herbert thinking about all the other artists who have painted this scene? It's like he's in conversation with them, adding his own voice to the chorus. Isn’t that what it’s all about, anyway? Each artist bringing their own perspective, their own way of seeing, to these old, old stories.