Santos Retablos 1936

Maude Valle painted this Santos Retablos, probably in watercolour, and it feels like a very personal act. Valle's colour choices are what draw me in. She's working with a muted palette, but there’s a real vibrancy in the reds, which are layered to create a sense of depth. Look at the way the paint is applied. It’s thin, almost transparent, allowing the paper to breathe through, giving it a delicate, ethereal quality. It's like she's revealing something, not just depicting it. The halo around the figure's head is made of these simple radiating lines, giving an impression of light, and drawing your attention to this central figure. Valle's painting reminds me a little of Marsden Hartley, another artist who sought out folk art traditions, embracing its directness and emotional honesty. It’s a reminder that art is always a conversation, and the most interesting voices are often those that speak from the heart.