Nude 1953

This is "Nude", a 1960 print by Milton Avery, made by applying blue ink to a flat surface before pressing paper onto it. I can imagine him, Avery, in his studio, maybe with the radio on, carefully carving the linoleum block. See how the blue ink defines the figure, nestled in its negative space? The linework is so gentle, almost like a caress, a hushed intimacy. The starkness of the ink gives the nude a graphic quality, the solid blue rendering everything in these simplified terms. Avery's nudes are never overtly sexual. They're more like studies in form and light, as if the model is part of the landscape. This print reminds me of Matisse and his exploration of the reclining figure, and how he played with flattening the space. There is a lovely conversation happening between artists across time, an echo chamber of inspiration. I love how a simple gesture can say so much. Avery's nudes are an invitation to really see. They are a perfect example of the joy of painting, in how one mark responds to the next.