Retablo 1935 - 1942

This watercolor Retablo was made by E. Boyd, who lived from 1855 to 1995. Boyd, who identified as a gay woman, spent much of her career studying and preserving the artistic traditions of the American Southwest. Her work provides a unique perspective on the cultural interchange of the region. Retablos historically served as devotional paintings within the domestic sphere, often rendered on wood or tin. Boyd, however, develops an alternative narrative by using watercolor to depict these traditional forms. The patterns and colors resonate with the artistic styles of both indigenous and Spanish colonial art, reflecting the intertwined cultural identities of the area. The retablo’s geometric and floral patterns evoke the aesthetic sensibilities of Hispanic devotional art while subtly referencing indigenous artistic traditions. Boyd's retablo invites us to reflect on the complexities of cultural identity, the politics of representation, and the emotional dimensions of faith.