Santa (One of Eight Virgins) Front View c. 1937

Majel G. Claflin made this watercolor, Santa (One of Eight Virgins) Front View, sometime before 1941. Look at how she applied the translucent washes, and how the figure seems to emerge from the white paper. I can imagine Claflin painting this, layering on these delicate colors, maybe thinking about folk art traditions or ancient sculpture. The way she’s rendered the figure’s drapery, it's as though she's channeling the flowing robes of a classical Greek statue. The colors are muted, almost dreamlike, and the figure has this sweet, mournful expression that makes you wonder what she’s thinking. I love the little details, like the necklace, the swirly pattern on her skirt, and the way she holds her hands. You know, when I look at a painting like this, I’m reminded that artists are always in conversation with each other, across time and space. Claflin’s work connects to something ancient, even as it feels fresh and contemporary. We’re all just riffing off each other, trying to make sense of the world, one brushstroke at a time.