Plate 41: Saint Barbara: From Portfolio "Spanish Colonial Designs of New Mexico" 1935 - 1942

This watercolor, "Plate 41: Saint Barbara," from a portfolio of Spanish Colonial designs of New Mexico, feels like a sketch lifted from the pages of a medieval book. It has been built up through layers of cross hatching to define the form and create tonal variation. I can imagine the artist carefully layering the thin washes of pigment, letting the cream color of the paper peek through. The dark outlines feel solid, as though drawn with ink. The artist's hand lingers, especially in the dove hovering above St. Barbara, its form emerging from the cross hatching. This image reminds me of the work of contemporary artists who also explore historical themes, such as Chris Ofili's reinterpretation of religious iconography, and the work of Laura Owens which blends drawing and painting. Painting is a form of embodied expression which embraces ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations and meaning over fixed or definitive readings.