Minnie Louise Briggs Raul (Maryland, 1890-1955) An etcher, illustrator and educator active in District of Columbia and Maryland. She was the founder and president in the 1930’s of the Society of Washington Etchers. She was known as the poet-etcher, oftentimes including poems in her works. Her horticultural background is evidenced in her artistic studies of individual flowers and plants, using soft, flowing, organic lines, capturing native plants and wildflowers. This etching depicts a close-up view of a flower growing in a garden with a small spider and three mushrooms. The artist has handwritten the following in the margin: “A corner of Mrs. Wyatts Garden. - A showy Arabis towering Over the home of the grass Spider- Creamy mush- rooms spring up to see what it is all about! With every good wish to my dear friends and inspiration- from the artist M.L.B." sight: 8 ½ by 11 ¾ inches frame: 11 ¼ by 14 ¼ inches