The Joggling Board

Art Historical Context

Created in 1918 by Helen Hyde, “The Joggling Board” offers a charming glimpse into childhood play. The print depicts African American children gathered on a porch, joyfully using the flexible wooden board that gives the work its title. Through this everyday scene of sport and recreation, Hyde captures a moment of carefree activity against the backdrop of a modest house. As a graphic arts print, the work reflects the early twentieth-century interest in printmaking as an accessible art form that could reach wide audiences. Hyde’s choice of medium allows the lively interaction among the children to be reproduced and shared, preserving a snapshot of community life during the final year of World War I. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, this piece was generously gifted by Hyde Gillette in memory of Mabel Hyde Gillette and Edwin Fraser Gillette. Its quiet celebration of play and togetherness continues to invite viewers to appreciate the simple pleasures that connect generations.

About the Artist

Helen Hyde · 1868–1919

Helen Hyde (1868–1919) was born in Lima, New York, and spent much of her childhood in California, where her family had relocated. She began her formal artistic training at the San Francisco School of Design and continued at the Art Students League in New York from 1888 to 1889. In 1890 she traveled to Europe, spending time in Berlin and subsequently in Paris from 1891 to 1894, where she became cap...