Aquatint Etching " Medicine Woman" by Helen Hardin [SOLD]

The Triumvirate of Deities: An Exploration of Helen Hardin's Pinnacle Works

Helen Hardin's etching oeuvre is a testament to her artistic talent, Pueblo heritage, and womanhood. Among her extensive body of work, three images—Changing Woman, Medicine Woman, and Listening Woman—emerge as the zenith of her achievement. These personal deity figures serve as eternal and intimate revelations of Hardin's character and essence, encapsulating her identity as an artist, a Pueblo native, and a woman.

Each of these etchings was meticulously crafted in etching/aquatint from copper plates. The prints, rendered in a palette of ochre, English red, Midnight blue, Sepia, and alizarin crimson, were produced on various types of rag printmaking papers. The works are characterized by their precision and visual tension, striving for a certain perfection of image and execution. They feature graphic contour lines, interior linear embellishments, and subtle nuances of color, testifying to Hardin's attention to detail.

One of these etchings, Medicine Woman, holds a particularly poignant place in Hardin's life and work. Completed in 1981, its creation coincided with a critical juncture in Hardin's personal life—her diagnosis of breast cancer. In Hardin's own words, "I finished Medicine Woman just before he [the doctor] told me. It was almost as if I needed that person, that healing spirit. After I found out I had cancer, and we were doing the print at El Cerro, I felt I had her spirit with me."

This etching, executed in four colors by El Cerro Graphics of New Mexico, was issued in a limited edition of 65. The piece discussed here is number 28 in the series, a tangible testament to Hardin's resilience and artistic vision.

Condition: this etching was previously framed under acidic matting which caused some acid burn to the white border that had been covered by matting. The etching was professionally conserved by a paper conservator, removing almost all the acid burn. There is some minor burn residue on the white paper border, but it is concealed under the new mat. The previous acid burn has been neutralized and no longer affects the integrity of this etching.

Provenance: this Aquatint Etching " Medicine Woman" by Helen Hardin is from a resident of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Recommended Reading:  Changing Woman: The Life and Art of Helen Hardin by Jay Scott

TAGS: Helen Hardin, Santa Clara Pueblo, Pablita Velarde, Native American symbols, Native American Paintings, Acoma Pueblo