Doorway, Main Entrance to Mission c. 1937

Geoffrey Holt made this doorway, main entrance to mission, painting with what looks like watercolor on paper. The colors are muted – earth tones with touches of faded red and blue – a grounded palette. I’m drawn to the texture Holt creates. The bricks around the doorway feel rough and worn, and there are thin washes of paint that give the impression of sunlight. The doors themselves are rendered with a delicate touch, the wood grain visible beneath a layer of grey. Notice the small cross above the doorway. It is not perfectly centered and leans slightly to the left, giving the composition a casual, off-kilter charm. For me, it’s like looking at a Marsden Hartley painting; they both had a knack for finding beauty in the everyday. It reminds me that art doesn’t always need to shout. Sometimes, the most profound statements are whispered.