Plate 45: Embroidered Bedspread (St. James): From Portfolio "Spanish Colonial Designs of New Mexico" 1935 - 1942

Editor: So, this is Plate 45: Embroidered Bedspread (St. James): From Portfolio "Spanish Colonial Designs of New Mexico," made between 1935 and 1942. It’s a mixed-media piece on paper, incorporating ink and drawing techniques. It feels almost intentionally… childlike, but in a captivating way. What jumps out at you when you see it? Curator: It's interesting, isn't it? I feel this almost primal urge to understand its narrative. The simplified shapes and vibrant colours give it the directness of a folk tale. It almost transports me back to a simpler time. But let's delve a little deeper, shall we? Editor: Please do! I'm curious about what’s beneath the surface. Curator: Well, this piece, despite its surface naivety, acts as a window into a unique time. The artist recreates the visuals from the Spanish Colonial period, echoing traditional designs but transforming them through a modern lens. It isn’t merely a copy, it is infused with… feeling, don’t you think? Do you get the sense that the artist had a personal connection with the colonial era in New Mexico? Editor: Yes, definitely! The details, the somewhat uneven lines... it feels like a story told from memory. Like someone recreating a cherished heirloom. Curator: Precisely! And look closely – the materials contribute to the feeling. It speaks of handmade quality, a deliberate break from mass production. Each stitch, each line seems like a whispered secret, wouldn't you agree? Editor: I do! It feels like I'm holding history in my hands, even looking at it here. This has opened up a completely new perspective on folk art for me. Curator: And for me too; to see something old with a fresh pair of eyes helps to relive memories I'd forgotten I even had.