Plate 13: Designs with Cross, Chimayo: From Portfolio "Spanish Colonial Designs of New Mexico" 1935 - 1942

Curator: Looking at this work, I see an altar rendered with remarkable restraint. It presents a cultural tapestry woven with geometric shapes and muted watercolor hues. Editor: My first thought is a question: is this a solemn space or a festive stage? The colors are almost carnivalesque. Curator: The piece is titled "Plate 13: Designs with Cross, Chimayo: From Portfolio 'Spanish Colonial Designs of New Mexico'," attributed to an anonymous artist and dating from sometime between 1935 and 1942. The work is primarily watercolor and drawing, a fascinating convergence of mediums. Editor: So, post-colonial New Mexico, seeking to define identity in the interwar years. This image presents a simplified interpretation of a cross— the scaffolding seems like cultural appropriation or naive tribute? Curator: Note the recurring motifs. Each symbol might carry a dual valence, like those squared enclosures and stylized heraldic devices. I wonder, how do you read the cross itself? For me, it transcends purely religious symbolism and embodies themes of convergence and cultural hybridity. Editor: That is an interesting question. Is that convergence respectful, or violent? To me, it is about understanding how power operates through aesthetics. Who chose to record the imagery? For whom? I mean, what does the design reveal and conceal about the interactions of indigenous, Spanish Colonial, and subsequent Anglo-American populations in New Mexico? Curator: These decorative elements certainly evoke a sense of rootedness, a continuity of cultural memory despite layers of colonization. They whisper of an ongoing, localized aesthetic. These elements suggest more than meets the eye; perhaps embedded narratives await interpretation. Editor: Thank you. I agree. Ultimately, for me, it calls attention to questions of appropriation and power dynamics inherent in representation. Curator: I appreciate that. It allows one to appreciate how images may embody enduring power. Editor: It's been helpful considering the confluence of histories this artwork brings into focus, prompting reflection on both aesthetic and social narratives.