Untitled (Mother and Child) c. 1930

Lydia Gibson made this print of a mother and child with what looks like a woodcut, a technique where the artist carves an image into a block of wood and then prints it. The stark contrast between black and white gives the scene a dramatic feel, but the floral pattern on the mother's dress adds a touch of warmth. The thing about printmaking is that it's all about process. Every line, every shape is carefully considered and deliberately placed. The texture of the wood grain might even show through in the print, reminding us of the artist's hand in the making. Look at how Gibson uses the white lines to define the mother's features and the child's body. It's almost like she's sculpting with light. The simple shapes are reminiscent of the work of Paula Modersohn-Becker, another artist who found great beauty in the everyday lives of women. This piece isn't trying to tell us a specific story. Instead, it invites us to reflect on the universal bond between mother and child.