Pumpkin Sky 1947

Hulda D. Robbins made this dreamy linocut print, with its pumpkin-colored sky, at some point during her long life. Imagine the artist carefully carving away at the linoleum block, deciding what to leave and what to remove. It's a slow, deliberate process, full of anticipation. I wonder what Robbins was thinking about when she made this? Was she trying to capture a specific place, or just a feeling? The colors are so warm and inviting; the tree in the center looks like a guardian, standing tall and proud. The shapes are simplified, almost childlike, which gives the print a sense of innocence and wonder. It reminds me of other printmakers like Lois Dodd, who also found beauty in everyday scenes. But Robbins has her own distinct vision, a way of seeing the world that's both grounded and ethereal. Artists are always in conversation with each other, building on what came before. Robbins' work invites us to slow down, to appreciate the simple beauty of the world around us, and to find joy in the act of creation.