Tin Nicho Containing Guadalupe Bulto c. 1936

This drawing of a tin nicho containing Guadalupe Bulto was made by Majel G. Claflin in 1935. Look at the way the ink and graphite wash across the page, as if it’s slowly revealing itself. You can sense Claflin’s hand moving tentatively across the surface, trying to capture the essence of the Guadalupe Bulto. I wonder if she was thinking about folk art traditions, like those of Horace Pippin. I can imagine her, brush in hand, carefully building up the layers, trying to find that perfect balance between representation and expression. The washes of grey make the colours of the Virgin really pop forward. There’s a sense of quiet devotion in this drawing, a humble attempt to connect with something bigger than herself. It reminds me that art-making is often a conversation across time, where each artist builds upon the work of those who came before.