This charming little reader by Maximino Santiago, from La Unión, Oaxaca, captures the rustic, heartfelt style of his village carvings. The purple donkey stands absorbed in a small sign that reads “La vida es un regalo”—life is a gift—painted in simple hand-lettered script. Matte colors, straightforward lines, and tiny tool marks on the wood give the piece a naïve, handmade character that feels intimate and sincere, as if you’ve caught a quiet moment of reflection.
