“Wyeth: The Helga Pictures” is one of the representative art books by the American painter Andrew Wyeth, a collection of works that encapsulates his artistic worldview and the depth of his human observation. It chronicles over 30 years of his creative journey, set against the backdrop of the Kuerner Farm. ◎ Basic Information - Official Title: “Wyeth: The Helga Pictures 1944–1975” - Author: Andrew Wyeth (paintings), Betsy Wyeth (text) - Supervision: Sumio Kuwabara - Publisher: Libroport - Publication Year: March 1981 (currently out of print) - Number of Pages: 324 pages - Size: Approximately 26 x 34 cm (large format) - Included Illustrations: 315 (mostly color, with a separate booklet of Japanese commentary) - ISBN: 4-8457-0017-4 C0071 ◎ What is Kuerner Farm? - Location: A farm near Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, about a mile from Wyeth's studio. - Models: The Kuerner family and the farm's scenery repeatedly appear as subjects in Wyeth's paintings. - Themes: Wyeth's unique poetic realism unfolds, depicting serene rural landscapes, aging, solitude, family, and the passage of time. ◎ Features of the Art Book - Composition: In addition to the paintings, text by Betsy Wyeth is included, describing the background of the works and the relationships with the models. - Techniques: A variety of techniques are used, including tempera, watercolor, and pencil, to meticulously depict texture and atmosphere. - Perspective: The artist's gaze is directed towards the lives and landscapes of the farm's people with deep empathy and observational skill. ◎ Value and Evaluation - Artistic Value: Along with Wyeth's masterpiece "Christina's World," it is considered a culmination of his human observation and landscape depiction. - Documentary Value: It is also a valuable document recording the lives of the Kuerner family and their surroundings, and is highly regarded as a research material for American Realism. ◎ Condition of the Item - Condition: Due to its large format, the slipcase and cover show signs of aging. There are also some spots, but it is generally in good condition.