Vermont Landscape 1943

Milton Avery made this pen and ink drawing, "Vermont Landscape," on a page torn from a sketchbook. The energy in this drawing comes from the rhythm of short, sharp marks which describe the contours of the hills and trees. It's like Avery's hand is dancing across the page, finding the essence of the landscape with each stroke. Look at the lower part of the page. Notice how Avery uses little clusters of horizontal lines to create a sense of depth and shadow. See how these marks contrast with the more chaotic scribbles above, suggesting the density of the forest? The quickness and lack of fussiness creates an immediacy - you can feel the brisk Vermont air! Avery's drawing reminds me of some of Marsden Hartley's landscapes, with their similar focus on simplifying forms and capturing the spirit of a place, but Avery’s style is even more stripped back, just the bare essentials. I love that the work exists as a record of his practice, revealing the ongoing conversation between the artist and the world around him.