Three Friends of Winter 1913

Helen Hyde created this print, Three Friends of Winter, around 1913, likely using woodblocks and watercolor. Look how the process of artmaking is right there on the surface! You can sense the way Hyde layered colors to create depth and texture. I’m really drawn to the way the green tea pot anchors the lower left corner, acting like a visual counterweight to the girl. The shadow of the teapot looks like a brushstroke, an echo of the artist's hand. It reminds me of a Japanese garden where every element is carefully placed to create a sense of balance and harmony. It suggests an inner world that is calm and ordered. This piece feels like a precursor to the flattened, graphic style you see in later artists like David Hockney. But it also makes me think of folk art, in its simplicity and the way it elevates everyday life to something beautiful and meaningful. There's a real conversation happening across time here.