Painting of St. Liberata c. 1939

Majel G. Claflin made this painting of St. Liberata with an unknown medium on paper at an unknown date. The way she's used color is what grabbed me first, this simple palette of red, green, gold, and blue, each a very particular hue, but not blended much. The surface has this gritty texture, especially in the gold background, like she’s layering the paint and letting each stroke breathe. I can almost feel the brush moving across the surface. I’m drawn to that deep green cross, it has this weird, beautiful solidity, like it was made of old stone. The whole thing has a kind of raw, emotional honesty. Claflin is reminding me of Bill Traylor, in her directness and the way she simplifies the figure into shapes and colors. Art is always a conversation, and this feels like a timeless one. It's not about perfection, but about feeling and seeing.