Plate 23: Painting on Buckskin: From Portfolio "Spanish Colonial Designs of New Mexico" 1935 - 1942

This painting on buckskin, part of a portfolio of Spanish Colonial Designs of New Mexico, feels like an echo of a time when art was intertwined with daily life. The anonymous artist isn't striving for realism, but for something more heartfelt. The palette is muted, earthy, with reds, greens, and blues dancing together in a way that feels both ancient and totally fresh. I love the way the artist approached the design with what looks like simple watercolor, almost like a child's drawing, but with a sophistication of an experienced hand. The flowers in pots remind me of Matisse but with an innocent charm. Look at the little bird perched among the leaves, a detail so tender it could break your heart. I think about artists like Forrest Bess or even Hilma af Klint, who created their own visual languages to express something beyond the surface of things. This piece reminds us that art isn't about perfection. It’s an invitation to feel, to imagine, and to connect with the human spirit across time.