Plate 35: St. Joseph: From Portfolio "Spanish Colonial Designs of New Mexico 1934 - 1942

This image of Saint Joseph, from a portfolio of Spanish Colonial designs of New Mexico, is made with bold outlines and flat areas of red, blue, and brown watercolor. I can imagine the anonymous artist carefully applying the colors, probably working from a preliminary sketch, filling in areas of the composition. I wonder what it was like for the artist to create this piece, maybe thinking about the communities they were part of. What was it like living in this community, and how did they translate it into this image? The surface is fairly simple, but I can see the layering of the different colors, how the artist has used thin lines to create texture and pattern. The red floral motifs and blue background create an interesting contrast. You know, thinking about the history of art and painting, it’s funny how the images and ideas can evolve and change across time. Artists are always building on one another's work, borrowing and remixing images to express new ideas and perspectives. It’s like a big conversation that’s been going on for centuries.