Retablo (Our Lady of Carmel) 1935 - 1942

Maude Valle made this painting of Our Lady of Carmel, probably later in her long life, using watercolor and graphite on paper. There’s a humility in the mark making that puts process first; she wasn’t trying to be fancy, just trying to represent something she felt. Look at the wooden frame she painted around the central image; it’s wonky and imperfect, like a child’s drawing, and yet it lends the piece such warmth. Valle’s color palette is earthy – browns, pinks, and creams – giving the work a grounded, human feel. The paint is thin and transparent, allowing the paper's texture to peek through, which adds to the sense of authenticity. The lines are shaky, as if Valle wasn't trying to create a perfect copy of an image, but instead a deeply personal expression of faith. Valle’s painting reminds me of some of the early self-taught artists, like the folk artist, Clementine Hunter, who painted scenes of everyday life on found objects. Like Hunter, Valle’s work has a raw, unaffected quality that transcends technical skill. It’s about something deeper, about capturing a feeling, a memory, a belief.