Wooden Retablo, San Antonio c. 1937

This wooden retablo, San Antonio, was made by Majel G. Claflin. Look at the simple forms and how she reduces everything down to a few essential elements. You can imagine the artist patiently layering the gouache, building up the image stroke by stroke. I like the rhythm of these stylized floral motifs set against the solemn figures. What do you think she was thinking when she decided to paint the border green? Maybe, like me, she also finds that the colour green brings a sense of tranquility. Claflin’s retablo reminds me of the work of other artists, like the folk artist Mattie Lou O'Kelley, who create their own unique visual languages to communicate their inner visions. Artists like Claflin and O'Kelley engage in a constant exchange of ideas, inspiring creativity across time. Each brushstroke holds an emotional resonance, offering multiple interpretations rather than fixed readings.