Plate 4: Christ in Sepulchre: From Portfolio "Spanish Colonial Designs of New Mexico"

American 20th Century

National Gallery of Art

This is a painting of an ornate enclosure or structure. The main element is an elaborate casket or sarcophagus, illustrated in a strong linear style with bold colors. The rectangular structure features clear glass panes framed in blue, highlighted with decorative floral motifs in red. Inside, there are detailed motifs including flowers and other ornate elements. The base is adorned with symmetrical floral patterns, and the top has rectangular sections, possibly suggesting a skylight or glass roof. The style is reminiscent of Marc Chagall, known for vibrant use of color and dreamlike compositions. The overall impression is one of vivid colors and a sense of the fantastical, typical of expressionist and modernist art. The forms are stylized and the use of color is expressive rather than realistic.