In "The Gesture", a beautiful young Mexican woman is depicted lost in thought. She wears traditional dress and reaches to adjust her shawl ( Mexican rebozo ) that wraps around her head and hangs from her body. To her side is a bouquet of flowers. A single capital from an ornate candelabra rests above her head like a tiara. Her gesturing hand points to the tiara. Perhaps, she is dreaming of being a princess? Yet his is more than just a portrait with dreamy symbolism. It's a statement about masterful design as well. Fletcher Martin was an assistant to the famed Mexican muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros. Clearly, there is the influence of Siqueiros but Martin has formed his own mature style. Martin organizes the work around a collapsed picture space. The illusion of any deep space is gone. Interconnected masses, irregular flat shapes, and a patchwork of color convey the nature of the subject. The shape of the candelabra echos the shape of the floral wall pattern which in turn plays off the shape of the flowers. All the graphic elements are highly stylized but work together harmoniously and seamlessly. The earthy color scheme of browns, ochers and desaturated purples are characteristic of the palettes used by the Mexican muralists and is incorporated here with a Mexican subject. The Gesture combines soul with structure. View it in your room. It's a painting you can fall in love with. Signed lower center