The Cruel Mother Folk Song Folklore Traditional Murder Child Ballad Illustrated Original Art Giclee Print by Helen Temperley. A3 or A4 size.

"The Cruel Mother" (a.k.a. "The Greenwood Side" or "Greenwood Sidey") is a murder ballad originating in England that has since become popular throughout the wider English-speaking world.

A woman gives birth to one or two illegitimate children in the woods, kills them, and buries them. On her return trip home, she sees children, playing, and tells them that if they were hers, she would dress them in various fine garments and otherwise take care of them. The children tell her that when they were hers, she did not dress them so, but murdered them instead.

I originally created this piece after being inspired by Naomi Bedford and Paul Simmonds' hauntingly beautiful version of the song, I was blown away. You can hear the song, and of course all of their other stuff, here: https://naomibedfordandpaulsimmonds.bandcamp.com/track/cruel-mother

Original artwork created by Helen Temperley using technical pen then coloured/collaged and finished digitally.

Printed using Canon professional standard inks onto 250gsm premium quality gloss paper.

A3 Print - approx H 29.7cm x W 42.0cm
A4 Print - approx H 21 cm x W 29 cm

Borderless printing to edge of paper for ease of framing.

Prints are sold unframed and will fit any standard A3 or A4 size frame or mount.

A4 printed will be posted in a hard backed envelope for protection.
A3 print will be posted to you in a cardboard tube.

Thanks for looking,

Helen.