Plate 36: Saint Roch: From Portfolio "Spanish Colonial Designs of New Mexico" 1935 - 1942

This watercolor of Saint Roch, from the portfolio "Spanish Colonial Designs of New Mexico," feels like a tender echo of folk art. The artist, whose name is lost to us, used gentle washes of blue and brown to bring Saint Roch to life. I wonder how the artist felt creating this piece? I see the hand of the artist, almost trembling with the gentleness as they added pigment to the paper. Look at the red cuffs and the wound on his leg, each rendered with a delicacy that speaks to a deep reverence. The artist's hand moves with a prayerful hesitation, giving form to a saint with such pathos. It reminds me of the raw expressiveness of Martín Ramírez. This piece is a reminder that artists, known or unknown, are in a perpetual dialogue. Each work builds upon the last, creating an unbroken chain of inspiration. We are all making and remaking the world in our own image.