Plate 30: Saint Isidore: From Portfolio "Spanish Colonial Designs of New Mexico" 1935 - 1942

This anonymous watercolor drawing from the portfolio "Spanish Colonial Designs of New Mexico" depicts Saint Isidore, the patron saint of farmers, standing with two oxen. The simplified, bold lines and colorful palette are characteristic of the "santero" style of religious folk art, which originated in New Mexico. The flattened perspective and stylized figures evoke a sense of both traditionalism and naive charm. This piece was created during the 1930s-1940s, a period of renewed interest in the preservation of American folk art.