San Juan Capistrano Altar Dome from the portfolio "Decorative Art of Spanish California" 1935 - 1942

This print, called San Juan Capistrano Altar Dome from the portfolio "Decorative Art of Spanish California", is an anonymous work in a graphic style, probably made with stencils or woodblocks. The artist’s process is more about planning and repetition than about improvisation. I am really drawn to the color combination here, how it creates a simple, almost primitive feeling. It's like they are making the most of a few colors, kind of maximizing the possibilities. The use of line in this print is also very deliberate. The outlines really define the forms, giving them a clear and distinct presence on the page. The way the light blue fills each shape feels very flat, almost like cut paper. It reminds me of some of the pattern designs of William Morris, although with a distinctively Californian flavor. It really emphasizes how art is all about borrowing, remixing, and adding your own spin to what's already out there. It’s like we are all part of a big, ongoing conversation through art.