Hurdlers 1929

"Hurdlers" was carved by Helen West Heller in 1929. It's like she's wrestling with the block, digging in and gouging out these figures from a solid ground of black. I love how the figures emerge through this act of labor. What was she thinking as she carved this scene of strained bodies in motion? It’s a real emotional and physical commitment to make such a print. The textures are wild, rough strokes and delicate lines together. It’s a way of seeing not just the bodies in movement but all the space around them, the space between them. The figures feel urgent and immediate. Helen's work reminds me of German Expressionist printmakers like Kollwitz, who were also interested in the human figure as a vehicle for deep emotional expression. They all seem to be in a conversation across time, speaking to us now.