Doors to Baptistry - Mission San Juan Bautista 1938

Ethel Dougan made this watercolor painting of the Doors to the Baptistry at Mission San Juan Bautista. The warm browns and tans of the doors are achieved through layering watercolor on paper, mimicking the look of natural wood. The artist focuses on the material of the doors, emphasizing the simple, vertical planks joined by horizontal rails. The technique used mirrors the woodworking process itself. Dougan’s work highlights the skilled labor and craftsmanship embedded in the doors, and evokes the historical context of the mission. The doors stand as a testament to both religious devotion and the physical labor required to build and maintain such structures. Paying attention to the materials and processes used in creating an artwork allows us to appreciate the labor involved in the artwork's creation, bridging the gap between craft and fine art.