Helen West Heller

A small bird's trilling...my spent corpse
1928

A black and white printed artwork on a beige paper featuring a block of text surrounded by a decorative border. The text is a poem that reads, "A SMALL BIRD'S TRILLING THROAT, MY LOVER'S FLASHING WIT, POIGNANT DREAM OF HEART'S DESIRE, FROSTED BELL OF AUTUMN DAWN, THESE WILL THROB IN MY SPENT CORPSE." Below the border, there is handwritten text that appears to be a signature and possibly a date. The overall style suggests a folk or traditional aesthetic.
A black and white printed artwork on a beige paper featuring a block of text surrounded by a decorative border. The text is a poem that reads, "A SMALL BIRD'S TRILLING THROAT, MY LOVER'S FLASHING WIT, POIGNANT DREAM OF HEART'S DESIRE, FROSTED BELL OF AUTUMN DAWN, THESE WILL THROB IN MY SPENT CORPSE." Below the border, there is handwritten text that appears to be a signature and possibly a date. The overall style suggests a folk or traditional aesthetic.

Not on view

Date
1928

Classification
Prints

Medium
Woodcut

Dimensions
Sheet (Irregular): 5 7/8 × 5 1/16in. (14.9 × 12.9 cm) Image: 3 × 2 9/16in. (7.6 × 6.5 cm)

Accession number
96.277.14

Edition
Ed. 109

Publication
Published by Franklin J. Meine

Credit line
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; gift of Judith and Richard Webb

Rights and reproductions
© artist or artist’s estate

API
artworks/25450

Part of a series:

Migratory Urge

18 works

A black and white printed artwork with a decorative border featuring a swirling pattern and two stylized eyes at the top corners. The center contains text acknowledging the previous publication of poems in various magazines, with a copyright notice for 1928 by Helen West Heller at the bottom. Handwritten notes at the bottom edge indicate the title "Migratory Urge: Poems by Helen West Heller" and additional publication details. The print is mounted on a slightly larger beige paper backing.
A black and white linocut print on a piece of fabric or paper with frayed edges. The print features bold text at the top reading "AN INTELLIGENCE IN A SMALL TOWN" and a block of text beneath it. Below the text, there is an illustration of two figures, one seated and one standing, surrounded by stylized plants and flowers. Handwritten text at the bottom indicates the title "MIGRATORY URGE Poems by Muri," the medium "Xilographic text," and the publication information "Pub. Chicago, '58." There are additional handwritten notes and numbers along the bottom edge.
A black and white printed artwork on a beige paper featuring a block of text surrounded by a decorative border. The text is a poem that reads, "A SMALL BIRD'S TRILLING THROAT, MY LOVER'S FLASHING WIT, POIGNANT DREAM OF HEART'S DESIRE, FROSTED BELL OF AUTUMN DAWN, THESE WILL THROB IN MY SPENT CORPSE." Below the border, there is handwritten text that appears to be a signature and possibly a date. The overall style suggests a folk or traditional aesthetic.
A black and white woodcut print depicting a mountainous landscape with a prominent peak in the background. In the foreground, there are stylized trees and a group of figures that appear to be hiking or climbing. The print includes the initials "WH" in the upper right corner and is signed at the bottom with text that may indicate the title of the work, the artist's name, and the date. The artwork is mounted on a cream-colored paper or fabric.
A black and white print titled "Cat Behind Curtain" from 1924, depicting a stylized cat with prominent whiskers and abstract patterns in the background. The image includes handwritten text at the bottom, indicating the title, date, and additional information about the print's publication.
A black and white linocut print titled "Early Skyscraper" by West Heller, dated 1940. The artwork depicts a stylized, angular representation of a skyscraper under construction with cranes and scaffolding. Below the image, handwritten text includes the title, artist's name, and additional notes indicating the print is from "Migration Urges" in Chicago, 1925, and is a xilographic print. The paper shows signs of aging with a slightly yellowed background.
A black and white linocut print on fabric featuring a poem titled "GARRET" with stylized text and imagery. The poem describes the sound of bird feet on shingles and the harshness of wind and rain, ending with the phrase "ON A LIFE OF PAIN." Below the poem, two hands are depicted with fingers touching. The artist's signature and the date "1938" are visible at the bottom right. The fabric has frayed edges and is slightly discolored.
An aged paper with a printed text block in the center surrounded by a decorative border. The text discusses the suitability of wood-cut medium for various artistic expressions, mentioning the 'horn book' and the work of Blake illustrating Virgil. It references the Spoon River country and describes an artist and poet. The name "Jones" appears at the bottom of the text block, followed by a series of geometric patterns. Handwritten notes are visible at the bottom edge of the paper, indicating the work's title, publication details, and catalog numbers.
A black ink print on a beige paper featuring an abstract design with text annotations at the bottom. The annotations include the title "KITCHEN CORNER 1950" and the artist's signature, as well as a note stating "from 'MIGRATORY URGE' by the KEEPSAKE bk. pub. in U.S. Hogarth Press, Chicago, 1950. #12."
A black and white print of a stylized figure on a piece of fabric or paper. The image is a small square in the center of the material, with handwritten text below and to the right that reads "LANDLADY 1926 Norbert Hase." Additional handwritten text at the bottom left corner reads "Migratory Urge #75 cat.#214." The background is off-white, and the overall impression is of a simple, yet expressive artwork.

Helen West Heller
18 works in the collection

View artist

On the Hour

A 30-second online art project:
Maya Man, A Realistic Day In My Life Living In New York City

Learn more about this project

Learn more at whitney.org/artport

On the Hour projects can contain motion and sound. To respect your accessibility settings autoplay is disabled.