The Helga Pictures: A Portfolio of Six Works: Nude Studies

by Andrew Wyeth

The Helga pictures galvanized public attention in 1986, when articles appeared in the press about a large cache of work previously unknown not only to the art world but even to the Wyeth's wife. At first, attention was given to his private project-depicting the same subject in secrecy from 1971 to '85. Away from the publicity that accompanied the debut of these works, they remain a striking, thoughtful study of an individual who evolved as a model from stranger to acquaintance to friend. The works in the Helga Pictures may also be appreciated for their artistic strengths & for their place within his continuing career as a keen observer of the people & places around his residences in Pennsylvania & Maine. Ultimately, The Helga Pictures is a telling tale of a persistence of vision & technique from a perspective that's both objective & personal. From a distinguished artistic family, Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009) is a painter & draftsman who developed under the watchful eye of his father, artist/illustrator N.C. Wyeth. One of America's most celebrated artists, Wyeth is famous for his tight style of drybrush painting & recognizable subject matter. Dedicated to a characteristic realism in both style & approach to subject matter, he finds resonance & universal meaning in the most commonplace details of the world around him.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Art and Photography

Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[Kim]

I'm basing my review not on words but images. I bought this book after seeing the exhibit. It made me shake, it made me quiver, it brought me to tears. This is why I am a painter today.

[Drew Plummer]

This is possibly the most moving book of art I have yet encountered. The introduction and explanatory essay are both top notch, but the real star is the lush printing of this fascinating series of 15 years worth of paintings of a single subject by one of America’s greatest 20th century artists.
With preliminary sketches and studies along with the finished pieces, I felt privileged to glimpse Wyeth’s thought and process in what is surely one of the most iconic pairings of painter and model I have ever seen.

[Peter]

The long-term collaboration of Wyeth and helga Testorf is one of the most remarkable in 20th century art. Not only did Wyeth make well over 200 images of Helga, drawings and paintings, but the collaboration was virtually unknown as all the works were acquired by one collector. This book breaks open, for us all to see and enjoy, this secret cache. Modern American art, even in America, tends to stand in the shadow of art from other epochs and continents - but this body of work reveals an artist with as great a command of the human figure as Degas, for instance, or Schiele.

[Carol]

Beautiful artworks of his model Helga. He asked his wife if it was okay with her if he painted Helga nude. His wife said that she wished he did the paintings first and the, later told her about what he did. It was hard to her since he painted her over a 15 year period.

[Confucius]

An artist friend of mine brought the book to me more than twenty years ago. Both the name and image of Helga impressed me deeply. The pictures were great.

[Barbara (Bobby) Title]

From the moment I opened the book, it took my breath away. I am not an artist nor artistically oriented; I think an "appreciator" is more accurate. I have always been moved by anything with "Wyeth" on it, whether I was mesmerized by what I was seeing or learning what I was reading. The hardcover version - a very large book - gave me both of those pleasures. How I wish I could see the original renderings, and have more time to read every word that accompanies the works. Next best would be to own the book.

How wonderful that my local library had a copy and it is renewable.

[Naomi]

Woke: Helga and Andy had an affair
Bespoke: these two had an ease, a connection, a mutual peace and silence. Love without eros. Deep admiration. A piece of soul sameness. Maybe I'm naive, but I genuinely just don't see an affair between the two of them. I could be wrong, but if there was one thing Andrew Wyeth wasn't, it was foreseeable.

His Helga pictures are such a meditation.

[Brendan Clancy]

An inspirational read for any serious artist it will still leave you questioning just how he was able to achieve what he achieved however. Some artist's find the key to unlock a level most of us will never achieve, Andrew was one of those artists.

[Jim]

Another marvelous collection of Andrew Wyeth's work.

[John W.]

An outstanding artbook with the portraits and nudes of Wyeths best model. A spiritual book as the photo images move from hype real to almost mystical - earth and bodies joining form.

[Stephan Ferreira]

This was a sale book - great price for the work inside, but not such a great book.

A terrific amount of work focused on one woman. Many are just studies, watercolor paintings or just sketches. But he's quoted as saying he wanted all his watercolors to look like they were painted in twenty minutes while having the "solidity of a painting".

Otherwise though, the book is grouped in bad themes ("The Peasant Dress" or "Porches"). Some images are reproduced badly. Poor choice in details, which are usually just close ups on things that are obvious. The sections include awful quotes, the same you might hear from artists at art fairs. Alot of "filling" when the work could have spoken for itself...or better yet, included more essays.

[Deodand]

Of course it was amazing. Those are some loving ol' pictures though, wouldn't you say? I see a lot of love in there, in the hours of drawing Helga's face over & over in repose or an expression of daydreaming happiness. The essay in the front doesn't speculate about their relationship, but come on. Really? *points*

[Chris Gager]

I rescued this from the dump trailer and passed it on to my niece who's also an artist. I don't see what the big deal is. Why AW wanted to sleep with her(if he did) does not come through in the pictures(or why she might have wanted the same from him). But then, I'm not a big AW fan anyways. I like NC's stuff better.

[Andrea]

This is my prized coffee table book. It's utterly breath-taking perfection from concept, execution, presentation, and experience. If I only had a time-machine, I would go back in time to its release in Mrs. Wyeth's gallery on the Wyeth farm.

[Timothy]

I found this book during my freshman year of college. I learned to draw from pondering these images. I have no idea where I would be today had I not stumbled on this gem while walking the stacks of the library.

[Steve]

With a thought-provoking essay and the complete catalog of Wyeth's news-making Helga pictures, there's nothing not to like in this gorgeous book. It adds more depth to our perception of America's most underappreciated artists and is essential in understanding him.

[Pegi]

I suggest knowing the artist before reading it. The history of the nude realism artist is very educational. The rest of the book are the drawings and paintings of Helga, unless you know the truth behind them. Enjoy.

[Sherrill Wallace]

I doodle at painting. I love Andrew Wyeth's work. This book shows the great detail of his water color technic.

[Kathy Whipple]

The book that I get out on rainy days for a visual feast.

[Yoby]

Of all the Wyeth clan - I like Andrew's paintings the most, and out of them the Helga pictures.

I always wonder what she is thinking as she poses.

She isn't a beauty, but she is a classic.

[Gwyndolyn]

heart breaking & beautiful

[Shirley Plummer]

Was there some question of balancing the artistic life with current respectability? The pictures were interesting...perhaps more 'pretty' than deep.

[John]

I prefer Winter and Fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape- the lonliness of it, the dead feeling of Winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show.

[reading is my hustle]

Beautiful.
Enough said.

[Anita]

Wyeth screams with so much emotional content in his art that it just leaves you shattered. His works are haunting and simple. and beautiful. and the modern art world ridiculed them. idiots.

[Ctooch99]

Absolutely stunningly beautiful book. A must have for anyone with a serious interest in illustration.

[Stephanie Cosby]

Favorite Painter

[Caroline]

I love these...

[Melissa]

My third Andrew Wyeth book. If you have this, PAGE 81 IS MY FAVORITE.

[G--]

Poignant, spare, honest, beautiful, personal.