Her Bit 1918

"Her Bit" is an etching made by Helen Hyde in 1918. Hyde was an American artist, known for her woodblock prints and etchings that often depicted women and children. Hyde spent many years living and working in Japan, and her art reflects the influence of Japanese aesthetics and techniques. She produced several prints of young women and children that are both documentary and fictional. Looking at this etching, we see a young girl dressed in a yellow smock. She appears to be knitting with focus, her tools and materials carefully considered. "Her Bit" is a domestic scene that centers on the figure of the young girl, yet there is something unusual about the title of the work. The word 'bit' implies that the girl's knitting has some wider social or community implication. The work provides an intimate glimpse into a child's world, but also hints at how even the smallest contributions can be meaningful within a larger context.