Plate - "State House, Boston" c. 1936

This plate, depicting the "State House, Boston" and created by Helmut Hiatt, presents a monochrome world of intricate detail. The mark-making here feels so intentional, like each line and dot is carefully placed to build a narrative, a sense of place. You get the feeling that the process for Hiatt was meditative, a slow build-up of form. The texture seems smooth, the color consistent, yet within that constraint, a whole world is revealed! The delicate floral border contrasts with the architectural precision of the State House. See how the horse-drawn carriage and figures in the foreground animate the scene, and the building becomes more than just a building, but a hub of activity. Hiatt reminds me a little of Joseph Yoakum, particularly in the shared interest in landscape and architecture, with a similar eye for detail and pattern-making. This piece is less about what is depicted and more about how the artist saw and experienced the world, inviting us to do the same.