Bulto (Santa Barbara) 1939

Eldora P. Lorenzini made this watercolor, "Bulto (Santa Barbara)", with a sensitive, observational touch. It feels like she’s really looking, right? See how the paint is thin and washy, almost transparent in places? The artist isn't trying to hide the process, but instead reveals the different stages of seeing. It's less about precision and more about feeling. Take a look at the way the tiered skirt is described. The bottom tier has these swirling decorations, and it really sings out. And the way the colours interact is like a conversation between the artist and the object. It's like Lorenzini wants to capture not just what the object looks like but also what it feels like to look at it. This reminds me of the early work of Marsden Hartley, another artist who found great beauty in folk art objects. Ultimately, it’s a humble act of devotion, of seeing something and wanting to understand it better through paint.