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Sculpture Garden Extended Hours

Open late until 8:00 p.m. on select nights
Through September 5
Exhibitions & Events
America’s 250th

Celebrating American art and artists
Art & Artists
Open Call

Artists Reimagining the Collection
Meet the 50 makers selected from more than 1,600 submissions

Open 10:00–5:00

Visit
Open today 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Admission is always free

6th and Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20565

Sculpture Garden Extended Hours

Open late until 8:00 p.m. on select nights
Through September 5
Exhibitions & Events
America’s 250th

Celebrating American art and artists
Art & Artists
Open Call

Artists Reimagining the Collection
Meet the 50 makers selected from more than 1,600 submissions

Summer Holiday

1939

Milton Avery

Associated Names

Milton Avery

Artist, American, 1885 - 1965

The image features a group of figures sitting on rocks next to a flowing body of water. The horizon is high in the composition, with rolling hills lightly sketched in the background, marked by a few sparse trees or bushes. The technique involves bold, black contour lines and hatching to convey the forms and textures, creating strong contrasts on the monochromatic palette. Close to us are a few figures, with simplified, flowing lines that suggest family or friends enjoying a moment together. Beyond them, the landscape rises gently, with a few marked strokes indicating vegetation and topography. The entire piece has an expressive, sketch-like quality, emphasizing form and movement over realistic detail.

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Artwork overview

Medium

drypoint in black on laid paper
Credit Line

Gift of the Avery Family, in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art
Dimensions

plate: 8.2 x 19.9 cm (3 1/4 x 7 13/16 in.)
sheet: 23.2 x 29.3 cm (9 1/8 x 11 9/16 in.)
Accession Number

1991.233.16
Catalogue Raisonné

Lunn 1973, no. 19

Artwork history & notes

Exhibition History

1994

Milton Avery: Works on Paper, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1994-1995, no. 17.

1995

Milton Avery: Works on Paper, The Hyde Collection, Glen Falls, 1995, no. 17.

1996

Milton Avery: Works on Paper, Allentown Art Museum, 1996, no. 17.
Milton Avery: Works on Paper, James A. Michener Art Museum, Doylestown, 1996, no. 17.
Milton Avery: Works on Paper, The Snite Museum of Art, Notre Dame, 1996, no. 17.

2004

"Discovering Milton Avery: Two Devoted Collectors, Louis Kaufman and Duncan Phillips", The Phillips Collection, Washington, 2004.

Bibliography

1973

Lunn, Harry H., Jr. Milton Avery: Prints 1933-1955. Washington, D.C.: Graphics International Ltd., 1973, no. 19.

1994

Owens, Carlotta J. Milton Avery: Works on Paper. Exh. cat. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1994: no. 17.

2004

Rathbone, Eliza E. Discovering Milton Avery: Two Devoted Collectors, Louis Kaufman and Duncan Phillips. Exh. cat., The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC, 2004: 95, no. 53.

Inscriptions

lower left in plate: Milton Avery; lower right in graphite: Milton Avery

Wikidata ID

Q75117125

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