Christ in the Sepulchre 1937

Eldora P. Lorenzini made this watercolor of ‘Christ in the Sepulchre’ sometime in the 20th century. I can only imagine the detailed observation and care that went into making this piece, the many hours she must have spent studying this ornate coffin. The sepulchre itself feels like a cage, but a cage made of wood, which, as a material, retains some link to life. It reminds me a little bit of folk art traditions, where everyday objects are made with such care and intention that they become objects of reverence. I wonder, did she feel like she was in conversation with other artists while she was making this? I hope so. It’s like we’re all just pinging ideas back and forth across time. Anyway, I can feel her there in the studio, making decisions, changing her mind, and all of that creative energy somehow stays in the work. It makes you think about seeing and feeling in new ways.