Unpublished Print for Immaculate Conception 1935 - 1942

This unpublished print for Immaculate Conception, made by an anonymous artist, is a testament to the power of devotion. The colors are muted, earthy. Imagine the artist carefully layering the paint, building up the image of the Virgin Mary, stroke by stroke. I wonder, what was on their mind as they worked? Were they thinking of faith, hope, or maybe just the simple act of making something beautiful? The halo around Mary’s head isn’t perfect, but it’s full of love. The artist's hand, so present in the slightly wavering lines, suggests that they are having an intimate conversation with the divine through the act of painting. It reminds me of other folk artists, like Bill Traylor, who found their voice through simple forms and raw expression. Artists, you know, we’re all just talking to each other across time, borrowing and sharing ideas. Painting is like that, too. It’s messy, uncertain, and open to all sorts of interpretations. Just like life itself.