Studio: international art (54.1912)

Helen Hyde

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"the mirror " (monochrome
woodcut.) by helen hyde

So-called "blocks" of wood used by the Japanese
are really planks, about three-quarters of an inch
in thickness. This means that the cutting is not
on a cross-section of the wood as in a European
block, but on a cutting of the wood parallel with
its grain. The design for the print is carefully
drawn on transparent paper, and then pasted, face
down, on the wood to be cut, various knives being
used for the purpose. The Japanese cutters are
exceedingly skilful in retaining the " life" of a
well-drawn line. If several colours are to be
given, it is necessary to have a separate block for
each. And as fresh colour is applied for every
print, it follows that these will vary in effect, no
two being exactly alike. The actual printing is
very simple, and is done entirely by hand.

All of these steps were conscientiously learned
by Miss Hyde in her desire to perfect her work.

But once having mastered the technique, she
decided to concentrate her strength on the design,
and entrust the merely mechanical details to the
marvellously skilful hands of Japanese artists of
long and careful training. She still adheres to this
mode of work, and has the assistance of two ex-
cellent cutters and one printer, the latter having
worked under her personal supervision for more
than eight years. She draws her designs, entrusts
them to the cutters, and when the blocks are
returned to her, summons her printer to work with
her in her own attractive studio, where the bright
winter mornings are given over to the work—testing,
correcting, printing, &x. She numbers and signs all
her prints. The "life" of a block usually covers
from 150-200 impressions, and it is then destroyed.

Let us now turn to the prints themselves. They
unquestionably merit serious consideration from

"happiness flower"
(wood-engraving in colours)
by helen hyde

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