The Chase 1903

Helen Hyde made this print, The Chase, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century, probably with woodblocks. The composition is very flat and graphic; it’s like she was using a cookie cutter for the shapes. I really like how she made something so complex-looking out of such simple marks. The children’s robes are mostly light, pastel shades of pink, with graphic details in black. It's kind of amazing how well the artist has captured the movement of the children running through the trees. You can tell the person on the right is pulling a child, but is the child reluctant to run? Or simply unable? I sympathize with Hyde's work. It's nice to consider how artists are in constant conversation and inspire each other’s creativity across time. Each artwork embraces ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations, rather than anything fixed or definitive.