Santo (Santa Rita) c. 1939

"Santo (Santa Rita)" is a 1939 painting by Carl O'Bergh depicting Santa Rita of Cascia, a 14th-century Italian nun. Santa Rita is shown holding a skull, a symbol of her devotion to death and her acceptance of suffering. The artwork's simplistic style, with vibrant colors and a focus on the subject, is characteristic of folk art, particularly from the American Southwest, where O'Bergh was active. O'Bergh's work is often characterized by the use of found objects, which can be seen in the rough wooden panel upon which this painting is executed.