Rooster 1953

Milton Avery made this print of a rooster in 1953 using woodcut. The process is so visible, it feels like the making and the image are one and the same. It’s a great reminder that art doesn't just appear, it's coaxed into existence through a series of decisions. The flat, velvety black ink contrasts with a vibrant blue to describe the body of the rooster. The texture is so present, you can almost feel the grain of the wood, and the paper fibers coming together. Avery leaves the ghost of the grid that makes up the rooster’s form. It makes me think about how grids can be either freeing or confining for artists, and I wonder if Avery was thinking about that too. Avery’s way of flattening and simplifying reminds me a little of Matisse, but with a quieter, more introspective vibe. I think the conversation between artists is what makes art so amazing – like one long, never-ending game of telephone.