A Monarch of Japan 1901

Helen Hyde’s “A Monarch of Japan” (1901) is a delicate color woodcut depicting three figures: a woman in a black kimono cradling a baby, and a second woman in a grey kimono behind them. The work showcases Hyde’s interest in Japanese culture and her mastery of the color woodcut medium, a style she became known for after traveling and studying art in Japan. The image is a fine example of the Japonisme trend, characterized by Western artists borrowing techniques and aesthetics from Japanese art, which was particularly popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.