An April Evening 1910

Helen Hyde made "An April Evening" using color woodcut, and it’s like a moment captured in a breath. You can almost feel the breeze rustling those cherry blossoms. Look at the way Hyde uses color; soft pinks and grays that blend together like watercolors. Her marks aren't about perfection, they are about capturing a feeling of the evening light and the weight of that little one on their mother’s back. See how the blossoms frame the scene, they’re not just pretty decorations, they're part of the story. The texture of the paper shows through, reminding us that this is a handmade object, touched by the artist's hand. This piece reminds me of the work of Mary Cassatt, another artist who found beauty in the everyday lives of women and children. Like Cassatt, Hyde invites us to slow down, to notice the beauty in the ordinary, and to appreciate the quiet moments that make up a life.