Hyde Park

Sybil Andrews

1931 · Color linocut on Japanese paper · Drawings and Prints

Here, in one of her most abstract works, Andrews depicted a group of city dwellers in London’s famous Hyde Park. Their bodies are distended and reduced to dark hats and coats out of which the occasional bit of skin emerges, such as their featureless faces. Despite the large size of the park, the thin vertical sheet and compression of figures create the impression of a crowded space, such as a Tube station. The cool tones and lush greenery they connote, however, undermine the stress of the density and congestion. The figures appear at peace in their surroundings, likely a statement about the restorative power of nature, especially necessary in urban spaces. Such links are further reinforced by the repetition of forms and colors, making the figures appear integrated into their surroundings.

Artist

Sybil Andrews

Date

1931

Medium

Color linocut on Japanese paper

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Purchase, Leslie and Johanna Garfield Gift, Lila Acheson Wallace, Charles and Jessie Price, and David T Schiff Gifts, The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, Dolores Valvidia Hurlburt Bequest, Peco Foundation and Friends of Drawings and Prints Gifts, and funds from various donors, 2019