The Daikon and the Baby 1903

Helen Hyde made this print, ‘The Daikon and the Baby,’ by carving into blocks of wood and layering colours on the paper. The shapes are clearly defined, but still organic and kinda wobbly. The baby is holding the daikon like a teddy bear, and its green leaves are a kind of natural crown! I love how Hyde uses flat planes of colour. The orange circles and shapes on the kimono pop against the black. The yellow patterned cloth contrasts with the daikon and green leaves to make a party of shapes. It’s like she’s made a world out of simple things. You know, it kinda reminds me of Matisse's paper cut-outs, not so much in style, but in the way both artists transform everyday life into something joyous and new. Making art feels like a conversation across time and place, doesn’t it?