Retablo (St. Longinus) 1937

This is Eldora Lorenzini’s, Retablo of St. Longinus, made in the 20th century, and painted with gouache on paper. Imagine Lorenzini there in her studio, pushing and pulling the paint around the surface, building up the figures of St. Longinus and his entourage, in olive greens, ochres, and brick reds. The paint is applied in thin washes with tight outlines, reminiscent of folk art traditions. What might Lorenzini have been thinking, I wonder, as she painted this? Maybe she was inspired by the need to create a visual narrative that blends historical, religious, and cultural elements? The painting has this amazing fan-shaped decoration at the top and a border that looks like wood, painted to look like wood, that is, which got me thinking about trompe l’oeil! She probably knew about this painterly tradition, but transformed it with her own unique vision. Artists are always looking, always learning, riffing off each other, playing around with different forms and styles. In the end, it’s all about how we express what we see and feel in the world, one brushstroke at a time.