East Jamaica Way 1943

Milton Avery made this quick sketch of East Jamaica Way using graphite on paper. It’s just a little thing, a moment caught on the go, really, and you can feel that energy in the lines. Avery's mark making here feels almost like handwriting, a quick notation of what he saw. See how the lines build up to suggest volume and depth? It's all about the layering, the way one mark informs the next. The texture of the paper, too, plays a big part. It's not just a flat surface; it's got its own character that interacts with the graphite. In the lower right, notice how the strokes suggest movement, like the wind rustling through the trees. It's a small detail, but it brings the whole scene to life. This reminds me a bit of some of Guston’s later, looser drawings, where he’s just letting the hand wander and explore. It shows how art is like a conversation, artists responding to each other across time.