New Brooms 1910

Helen Hyde made "New Brooms" around 1910, and it's a color woodblock print. You can really see the hand of the artist in this piece, particularly the freshness of the marks. It's like she's inviting us into her process, not just showing us the finished product. There's a wonderful tension between the flat planes of color and the delicate lines that define the figures and flowers. The texture of the paper gives it a tactile quality. The way the colors overlap and bleed into each other creates a sense of depth and atmosphere. Look at the brooms, you can see how each line contributes to the sweep of the straw. I'm reminded a bit of Mary Cassatt, who also did a lot of printmaking and focused on domestic scenes. But Hyde brings something unique to the table with her blend of Western and Japanese influences. For me, this print is about celebrating the beauty of everyday life and embracing the unexpected.