Bulto 1939

Carl O'Bergh made this bulto with watercolor and graphite on paper. Although it is a painting, the image itself depicts a carved wooden sculpture of a saint, a devotional object common in Hispanic New Mexico. Consider the ways in which the artist has chosen to represent the sculpture's textures. See how the delicate graphite and watercolor conjure the roughhewn quality of carved wood, the cracks, and the worn paint of the original bulto. These sculptures are traditionally made by santeros, local artisans who use simple tools to carve cottonwood or pine. This underscores a direct connection to the community. The bultos weren't mere decorations, but integral parts of religious practice, embodying faith through the labor involved in their creation. The act of carving and painting becomes a form of prayer, embedding cultural and spiritual significance into the object. The artist invites us to appreciate the cultural and artistic traditions embedded within the work of often under-recognized artisans.