Two Women 1950

Milton Avery painted these Two Women with oil on canvas, and right away, I'm thinking about process. Look at how the colors have been laid down. The two figures emerge as blocks of color in blue, white, peach, and lavender. Avery’s totally pared down the forms, right? He’s flattened everything, simplified it, but with these amazing color choices that are slightly off, you know? Like, that flesh tone isn't quite flesh, the hair isn't quite hair. It feels so modern. I imagine him, brush in hand, stepping back, squinting, layering the colors. I can almost see him thinking through color, thinking through shapes. It's like he's having a conversation with Matisse, or maybe even a little with those early Manets. The way he uses color to suggest form, it’s like he’s painting light itself. It’s really something!