Sunday Morning 1912

Helen Hyde made this colour woodblock print titled ‘Sunday Morning.’ The delicate lines and soft hues create a scene of quiet anticipation. There’s a real sense of process here, each mark carefully considered, building up layers of tone and texture. What I find so compelling is the way Hyde uses the woodgrain to suggest both form and atmosphere. Look closely at the bark on the trees. See how the lines follow the contours, giving them a sense of depth? Then notice how the same grain creates a hazy, dreamlike quality in the background, softening the edges of the buildings. It’s as though the very material of the print is breathing life into the scene. And isn’t that what art is all about? Hyde's work reminds me of that of the later painter Lois Dodd, who would use stark light and shadow to suggest the latent possibilities of everyday scenes. What unifies all these artists is that they show us that the beauty lies not in perfection, but in the unique and unrepeatable act of creation itself.