Cross over Main Entrance to Mission c. 1937

Geoffrey Holt made this watercolor, "Cross over Main Entrance to Mission" at an unknown date. The muted palette and delicate lines, it's almost like Holt is whispering to us. The cross itself is rendered in a soft, earthy red, a color that feels both ancient and immediate. It's as if the cross is emerging from the wall, or maybe the wall is slowly consuming it. I am drawn to the way Holt captures the texture of the crumbling wall. You can almost feel the rough surface of the bricks and the flaking plaster. Look closely at the top-right corner; see how the bricks are exposed? It's this attention to detail, this willingness to embrace imperfection, that makes the work so compelling. It reminds me a little of Giorgio Morandi's still lifes, that same quiet intensity, that same focus on the beauty of the everyday. Ultimately, this artwork is not just about a cross or a mission. It's about time, memory, and the way the past lingers in the present. It's a reminder that art, like life, is full of ambiguity, and that's okay.