Toy Department 1940

Helen Bruton's "Toy Department" comes into being through subtle lines, capturing a moment in time, perhaps in the 30s or 40s, as families browse a toy store. Looking at this etching, I get a real sense of being in the thick of it, like a fly on the wall. It's all done in these delicate, scratchy lines, creating depth and shadow, giving the whole scene a kind of hazy, dreamlike quality. I feel a connection with Helen Bruton and how she made "Toy Department." I wonder what she was thinking when she made it. It's like she wanted to freeze this fleeting scene, the hustle and bustle of shoppers, a little girl reaching for something, maybe hoping for a treat, all while suggesting the social fabric of the time. And isn't that what art is all about? A visual conversation across time, inspiring us, making us think, making us feel. Bruton's "Toy Department" really has a feeling!