Lovely squirrel by María Jiménez, one of Oaxaca's most celebrated painters and a master of the floral style that has inspired generations of woodcarving artists in San Martín Tilcajete. María is known for her extraordinary ability to cover every surface of a carving in densely packed flowers without the composition ever feeling crowded — and this squirrel is a beautiful example of that gift.
The carving is lively and low to the ground, tail curling upward, caught in that alert, watchful posture that squirrels hold for exactly one second before darting off.
María has painted the entire body on a soft blue ground with a garden of tiny flowers in every color, each one individually painted with leaves and petals, packed together so tightly that the piece glows.
The face is unexpectedly charming up close, a pink smile, golden eyes with painted lashes, and two small white teeth that give this little squirrel a great deal of personality. A wonderful piece from one of the true masters of the tradition.
