Baobab

Baobab is an etching on paper by Hilda Bernstein. The work presents a baobab tree within a warm, yellow-toned landscape in the background, while an elephant appears separately in the foreground against a large empty space. This contrast creates a sense of distance or disconnection between the animal and its environment. Through the use of line and texture, the etching emphasises both presence and absence, suggesting themes of displacement, memory, and separation. Bernstein developed much of her artistic practice while in exile during apartheid, and her work often reflects these lived experiences.