Carved and Painted Wooden Santo (St. Joseph) 1935 - 1942

Majel G. Claflin made this gouache painting of a carved and painted wooden Santo, or St. Joseph, sometime between the late 1920s and early 40s. I love how the simple colour palette, almost childlike in its directness, makes the textures of the sculpture come alive. Look at the way Claflin renders the green robe with these almost topographic lines. It's not just about depicting fabric; it's about the physical act of carving, the hand that shaped the wood. There’s a rawness there, an honesty about the making process that resonates with me. And then, the face, painted with such subtle gradations of grey, almost like a ghostly presence. The contrast between the roughly hewn robe and the delicately painted face creates a tension that I find really compelling. It reminds me of some of Marsden Hartley's folk art portraits, these bold, simplified forms imbued with a deep sense of spirituality. Art is all about these conversations across time, echoes of ideas and techniques bouncing off each other.