Two Figures in a Landscape 1943

This landscape with figures was sketched by Milton Avery, probably en plein air, with pen on paper. Avery’s process is all about playful reduction, finding the essence of a scene with as few marks as possible. Here, the pen lines are all about feeling. Look at the lower right, the scribbly zig-zags describing the bush. These marks are loose and free, almost childlike in their simplicity, yet they perfectly capture the density and texture of the foliage. There is also a written note nearby, maybe about the light? Avery's focus on simplified shapes and harmonious colors reminds me of Matisse. Both artists invite us to see the world with a fresh, almost innocent perspective. It's a reminder that art isn't about perfect representation, but about feeling and seeing in new ways.