The Christ Child-Retalba El Nino Perdido, (The Lost Child) a Retabla 1935 - 1942

E. Boyd made this retablo, The Christ Child-Retalba El Nino Perdido, probably in the mid-20th century. Look at the way the colours are laid down flat, almost like coloured pencils, but with the texture of watercolour. There's something direct about that. See how the artist outlines the figure of the child in a simple, bold red, then repeats the red in the border? Inside the main rectangular form, the background is filled with a wash of tan. Then there are the slightly darker strokes of the brush, which build up a sense of shadow, framing the figure and giving it a sense of depth. I love the way the artist gives us the image of the child's heart in his hand: a way of offering himself to the viewer. This reminds me a bit of Marsden Hartley's folk art portraits, there's a similar kind of directness and simplicity. Art that’s straightforward, yet full of feeling.