Ball of Yarn

Edward Ryden

Edward Ryden depicts a familiar sight, framing his color woodcut within the bounds of an unusually long format as if the viewer is observing the moment while walking past a door held slightly ajar. In it, a young, curious Siamese cat eyes a tempting ball of yarn that’s begun to unravel; the viewer can easily anticipate what comes next.

From landscapes to intimate domestic scenes, Ryden executes each of his compositions with a light and wondrous hand, shedding superfluous detail for those small things that make a moment unique: the cat’s expression, the link between the blue of its eyes and the object that is soon to be its prey, the woodgrain pattern of the interior floor, the harmonious earthy tones. Without overstating its charm, Ryden gives the viewer a small break from the din of life to embrace a moment of quiet delight.