In Mexico 1913

Helen Hyde made this print, "In Mexico", using etching, probably sometime in the early 1900's. What strikes me about this image is the beautiful, almost accidental way that Hyde coaxes the image into being through her process. You can see this especially in the ground, which is made up of tiny, almost scribbled marks, like notes on a page. The colors are earthy and warm, with a limited palette that gives the scene a sense of intimacy, like it's a secret moment between a mother and child. Look at how the brown of the mother’s dress seems to bleed into the ground, grounding her figure and creating a sense of connection to the earth. It’s not overworked, instead, it feels like the image has been allowed to emerge organically. It makes me think of Mary Cassatt, another artist who captured everyday moments with a similar sense of tenderness. And it reminds us that art is not just about capturing a perfect image, but about the process of seeing, feeling, and allowing the world to imprint itself onto the plate.