Artwork
The Kid
The Kid is a print by Joan Jordan. It dates from 1928 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Kid, a black‑and‑white print executed in 1928 by American artist Joan Jordan, is part of the collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The composition depicts a solitary woman traversing a rugged field, burdened with a bundle of sticks, while two sheep graze nearby beneath a canopy of dense, branch‑laden trees.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure—a woman carrying firewood—suggests themes of labor and rural life, emphasizing the physical weight of daily tasks. The presence of the sheep and the untamed landscape underscores a connection to agrarian environments, inviting contemplation of human endurance within a natural setting.
Technique & Style
Jordan employs a stark, graphic approach, reducing forms to bold outlines and flat planes of tone. The print’s surface bears a pronounced texture that evokes the appearance of a woodcut, with strong, decisive lines that simplify volume and shadow into a near‑carved aesthetic.
History & Provenance
Created in the late 1920s, The Kid entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition, though specific details of its purchase remain limited. Its inclusion in the museum’s print collection reflects the institution’s interest in early twentieth‑century American graphic works.
Context
Produced during a period when American printmakers explored regional subjects and simplified visual vocabularies, the work aligns with contemporary trends toward social realism and the revival of traditional print techniques. Jordan’s choice of a solitary, working figure resonates with the era’s focus on everyday American life.
Artist & collection
