Colcha 1935 - 1942

Majel G. Claflin made this Colcha, or textile design, on an unknown date using tempera, watercolor, and graphite on paper. This image's meaning lies in its cultural references and historical associations. "Colcha" refers to a type of embroidery traditionally practiced in New Mexico and Southern Colorado. Dating back to the Spanish Colonial period, it reflects the cultural fusion of Spanish, Mexican, and Native American traditions. Claflin was not from this community, but she studied traditional art forms as part of the Federal Art Project during the Great Depression. The image creates meaning through its visual codes: crosses representing the Catholic faith, sunflowers, vines, and a man plowing a field with oxen. Claflin may be reflecting on folk traditions in danger of disappearing. Understanding this Colcha requires research into the history of folk art, the cultural history of the Southwest, and the records of the New Deal art projects. The meaning of art lies in its social and institutional context.