Hand Made & Painted Wooden Cross - Headstone c. 1937

Majel G. Claflin made this watercolor, "Hand Made & Painted Wooden Cross - Headstone," sometime before 1941. I'm really drawn to the way the pale blues and creams create a sense of quiet reverence. I can imagine Claflin, brush in hand, carefully rendering each detail. What was she thinking about as she painted the carved edges of the cross, and the lettering with Arturo Andres Flores's name? The wood grain at the base is particularly tender, as it anchors the cross. It has a solid, grounded quality. The blue feels like an echo to other blue painters like Yves Klein. There's something very moving in the simple act of representation here. Painting isn’t just about what we see, but about how we feel, how we remember, and how we connect to each other across time. And isn't that what headstones are for too?